Under Pressure
Queen David Bowie Annie Lennox Lyrics

Mm ba ba de
Making non-verbal sounds to create a sense of rhythm

Um bum ba de
Continuing to make non-verbal sounds to emphasize the rhythm

Um bu bu bum da de
Adding more non-verbal sounds to create a more complex rhythm

Pressure pushing down on me
Feeling weighed down and overwhelmed by stress and responsibilities

Pressing down on you no man ask for
Acknowledging that stress affects everyone, even if they didn't ask for it

Under pressure that brings a building down
Explaining how excessive pressure and stress can cause a physical structure to collapse

Splits a family in two
Describing how pressure and stress can break apart relationships and disrupt families

Puts people on streets
Highlighting the impact of economic and social pressure that can lead to homelessness

Um ba ba be
Returning to non-verbal sounds to maintain the rhythm

De day da
Continuing with non-verbal sounds and phrases to keep the rhythm

Ee day da that's okay
Asserting that it's alright to keep going with the rhythm and not worry too much about the lyrics

It's the terror of knowing
Expressing the fear and anxiety that comes from understanding the true nature of the world

What the world is about
Reflecting on the harsh realities of life and the struggles faced by many people

Watching some good friends
Grieving the loss of friends who have succumbed to pressure or who are struggling

Screaming Let me out
Imagining the cries for help from those who are struggling to cope with pressure and stress

Pray tomorrow gets me higher
Looking to the future with hope that things will get better and the pressure will ease

Pressure on people people on streets
Connecting the pressure that is felt by individuals to the broader social issues, such as poverty and homelessness

Chippin' around kick my brains around the floor
Using metaphorical language to describe the feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to focus

These are the days it never rains but it pours
Describing a period of time during which many challenges and difficulties arise at once, without pause

Be lap
Returning to non-verbal sounds and phrases to maintain the rhythm

People on streets ee da de da de
Repeating the previous line to reinforce the idea that there are real people experiencing the effects of pressure and stress

People on streets ee da de da de da de da
Further emphasizing the point about the human toll of pressure and stress

Turned away from it all like a blind man
Describing the tendency to ignore or avoid the problem of pressure and stress, in contrast to the metaphorical blind man who cannot see

Sat on a fence but it don't work
Highlighting the futility of trying to remain neutral and uninvolved in the face of pressure and stress

Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Explaining how love and positive emotions can be undermined by the negative effects of pressure and stress

Why, why, why?
Expressing frustration and a sense of helplessness in the face of these challenges

Love love love love love
Reasserting the importance of love and positive emotions despite the hardships

Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking
Suggesting that the stress and pressure can lead to a breakdown and insanity

Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Asking for a second chance and a fresh start to address the problems caused by pressure and stress

Why can't we give love that one more chance
Highlighting the importance of love and unity as a solution to these problems

Give love give love give love give love
Repeating the call to love and togetherness to emphasize its importance

Cause love's such an old fashioned word
Recognizing the antiquity of the concept of love, but underscoring its relevance to current problems

And love dares you to care for
Emphasizing the active, caring aspect of love and its power to inspire change

The people on the (people on streets) edge of the night
Calling attention to those who are most vulnerable and in need of support

And loves (people on streets) dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves
Challenging people to shift their priorities and focus on caring for others, rather than just themselves

This is our last dance
Recognizing the urgency and importance of addressing these issues now, and not waiting any longer

This is ourselves
Acknowledging that the issues of pressure and stress are a part of our own lives as well as society as a whole

Under pressure
Returning to the central theme of the song, which is the heavy weight of pressure and stress felt by individuals and society

Under pressure
Repeating the line to reinforce the central theme

Pressure
Ending the song with a final emphasis on the theme of pressure and its effects