Under Pressure
RDM ft Keane Lyrics

Mm ba ba de
The song begins with an opening scat intended to convey a feeling of being overwhelmed and a lack of words to express it.

Um bum ba de
This scat continues its emphasis on the disjointed feeling of pressure, such as that which can cause a sense of panic or unease.

Um bu bu bum da de
This scat adds to the destabilized feeling, conveying the sensation of things moving too quickly or chaotically around the singer.

Pressure pushing down on me
The first true line of lyrics describes the feeling of weight, oppression, or stress pressing on and suffocating the singer.

Pressing down on you no man ask for
The second line describes that this pressure is also affecting those around the singer, without being asked for or welcomed by them.

Under pressure - that burns a building down
This line suggests that the extreme and oppressive nature of the pressure feels unbearable, and can lead to the collapse or destruction of even large, sturdy structures like buildings.

Splits a family in two
The pressure causes enough tension that it can drive others apart, such as dividing a family into factions or driving a wedge between loved ones.

Puts people on streets
The severity of the pressure and its impact can even lead to homelessness and forced relocation for some.

Um ba ba be
The scat reappears, continuing to emphasize the sense of disorientation and mental weakness caused by pressure.

De day da
This is another scat which echoes the sounds of the previous ones, without conveying any particular meaning.

Ee day da - that's o.k.
This line is a reassurance that everything is alright, despite the chaos and pressure referenced in earlier lines.

It's the terror of knowing
This is the first of several lines which suggest that the primary source of the pressure is the overwhelming awareness of the problems in the world, and the difficulty of addressing them.

What this world is about
The terror of knowing comes specifically from the overwhelming feeling of being small and insignificant in a large, confusing world full of chaos and suffering.

Watching some good friends
This line suggests that the singer is not alone in feeling the pressure, and that others they know are also being impacted by it.

Screaming 'Let me out'
Despite this shared experience, all those under pressure feel trapped and desperate to escape, as though they were prisoners.

Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
This line highlights a common human response to pressure, which is to hope and pray for a better tomorrow that will relieve the weight on one's shoulders.

Pressure on people - people on streets
This line revisits the idea that pressure can force people into a state of homelessness or displacement, but also suggests that pressure is universal, impacting people from all walks of life.

Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor
The first portion of this line suggests that the singer is feeling mentally scattered or disjointed, while the second portion emphasizes the violent, chaotic sense of the pressure affecting the singer.

These are the days it never rains but it pours
This line speaks to the cyclical nature of pressure, where after a period of calm things tend to suddenly explode and become much worse than before.

People on streets - ee da de da de
This line is a return to the idea that pressure can lead to homelessness and displacement of people, emphasized with another scat.

People on streets - ee da de da de da de da
This line repeats the previous one, driving home the importance of its message.

Turned away from it all like a blind man
This line suggests that people may become overwhelmed by pressure, to the point where they blank everything out and can no longer see where they are going.

Sat on a fence but it don't work
The fence represents a state of non-action or indecision, but this does not alleviate the pressure or solve the underlying problems.

Keep coming up with love
The singer suggests that, despite everything, they believe that love and compassion can help them and others find a way out of the pressure.

but it's so slashed and torn
Unfortunately, while love is a hopeful solution, the world's troubles and pressures can cause even the purest, most genuine emotions to become frayed and weakened.

Why - why - why?
This line emphasizes the desperation and confusion that can be caused by pressure or the world's problems, leading to a sense of hopelessness and impotence.

Love love love love love
The repetition of the word love emphasizes the importance of love as a possible solution or answer to the world's pressures.

Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
This line emphasizes the toll that pressure and stress can take on people's mental health, causing them to feel overwhelmed and even losing their grip on reality.

Can't we give ourselves one more chance
This line suggests that although the world's problems are numerous and daunting, there might be truths and solutions that are just within reach if we all give each other another chance.

Why can't we give love that one more chance
This line specifically calls for love to be the guiding force that helps people transcend the pressures and problems of the world.

give love give love give love give love
Another repetition of the word love, emphasizing its importance and necessity as a solution.

Cause love's such an old fashioned word
This line is a nod to the idea that love has been used as a solution to the world's problems for many years, suggesting that despite this it may still be effective.

And love dares you to care for
This line suggests that by daring people to care about each other and the world around them, love can suddenly become a powerful motivator and tool of change.

The people on the edge of the night
This line speaks to those who are often forgotten or overlooked in society, but who may be most in need of love and care.

And love dares you to change our way of
By suggesting a change in the way things are done, in how people interact and think about the world, love can once again become a transformative force.

Caring about ourselves
This line speaks to the idea that people must first look after themselves, in order to be able to care effectively for others or for the world around them.

This is our last dance
The song concludes with an allusion to people's mortality or the limited time they have on the Earth, emphasizing the importance of taking action and finding solutions while there is still time.

Under pressure
The song's title and closing lyrics summarize its central theme and message: that pressure, in all its forms, is a universal experience that can cause real harm, and can only truly be overcome by care, compassion, and love for ourselves and others.