Under Pressure
SMASH Cast Lyrics


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Pressure, pushin down on me, pressin down on you, no man ask for.
Under pressure, that burns a building down, splits a family in two, puts people on streets.

Itβ€²s the terror of knowing what this world is about,
Watching some good friends screaming, "Let me out."
Pray tomorrow takes me higher. Pressure on people, people on streets.

Chippin' around, kick my brains around the floor.
These are the days, it never rains but it pours.
People on streets, people on streets.

Itβ€²s the terror of knowing what this world is about,
Watching some good friends screaming, "Let me out." Pray tomorrow gets me higher and higher and higher.
Pressure on people, people on streets.

Turned away from it all like a blind man, sat on a fence but it don't work.
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn. Why, why, why?

Insanity laughs, under pressure weβ€²re cracking.
Canβ€²t we give ourselves one more chance? Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Why canβ€²t we give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love?

Cause love's such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves.




This is our last dance, this is our last dance, this is ourselves.
Under pressure. Under pressure. Pressure.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Under Pressure" by the SMASH Cast explore the overwhelming feeling of pressure and its impact on individuals and society as a whole. The song describes the weight that is continuously pressing down on everyone, without anyone asking for it. This pressure is like a force that can destroy buildings, break families apart, and leave people homeless and desperate.


The song reflects on the terror of facing the harsh realities of the world and witnessing the struggles of friends who desperately want to escape their circumstances. The hope for a better tomorrow is expressed through the lyrics, "Pray tomorrow takes me higher," emphasizing the desire for relief from the current state of pressure on people's lives.


The chorus highlights the relentless nature of pressure, with the repetition of "people on streets," illustrating how widespread the impact is. It refers to the constant struggle and the feeling of being pushed to the limit, both mentally and emotionally. The verse about chipping around and kicking brains around the floor suggests the frustration and chaos that can result from the pressure, emphasizing the exhausting nature of these experiences.


The lyrics also touch on the theme of love and the struggle to maintain it under pressure. The reference to love as an old-fashioned word suggests that in a world filled with pressure and chaos, love often seems impractical or ineffective. However, the song challenges this notion by daring us to care for those on the edge of society and to change our self-centered way of thinking. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of urgency, as if this is the last chance for love and for us to redefine ourselves before succumbing to the overwhelming pressure.




Writer(s): David Bowie, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon

Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Efe248

Jeremy Jordan's range is just insane!

@theditzyblondeone

jeremy's range is literally insaneΒ 

@kaitlynmalessi

Jeremy Jordan ''why'' is higher than my grades

@Bloodyheroesandlegends

Ten times higher than mine then

@ninamoskowitz6478

Two bests moments: Jimmy's long high note, and the five-six seconds where we get the treat of hearing Derek sing. :)

@BBallLuver349

I had that as my ringtone. Derek singing that is.

@BK-wb9oq

@Mila DiPolo while some pitch correction is used, autotune doesn't mean the singner doesn't hit any notes. Autotune is used to correct a few notes throughout do singers don't have to do perfect takes. Plus, on the high note, you can hear some vibrato that is definetly not from a machine.

@leilanihanaike

The first time I heard Jeremy hit that high note I was thinking to myself "I didn't know he could do that!" I then remembered that he was a swing for the lead role in Rock Of Ages and then it seems so obvious after that.

@babewithnobrainss

Finally they are all singing! Jeremy on the high note.. and Jack β™₯

@theYukonWolf

I've waited Jack Davenport sing since the beginning of the series. FINALLY hear one line from this song! His voice is awesome!

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