Surface Pressure

Album: Encanto (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)
Charted: 3 8
Play Video
  • I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous
    I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is
    I move mountains, I move churches
    And I glow 'cause I know what my worth is

    I don't ask how hard the work is
    Got a rough, indestructible surface
    Diamonds and platinum, I find 'em, I flatten 'em
    I take what I'm handed, I break what's demanded, but

    Under the surface
    I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
    Under the surface
    Was Hercules ever like, "Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus"?
    Under the surface
    I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service

    A flaw or a crack
    The straw in the stack
    That breaks the camel's back
    What breaks the camel's back?

    It's pressure like a drip, drip, drip, that'll never stop, whoa
    Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip, 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh
    Give it to your sister, your sister's older
    Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder
    Who am I if I can't run with the ball?
    If I fold to
    Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa
    Pressure like a tick, tick, tick, 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh
    Give it to your sister, your sister's stronger
    See if she can hang on a little longer
    Who am I if I can't carry it all?
    If I falter

    Under the surface
    I hide my nerves and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us
    Under the surface
    The ship doesn't swerve as it heard how big the iceberg is
    Under the surface
    I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this?

    Line up the dominoes
    A light wind blows
    You try to stop it tumbling
    But on and on it goes

    But wait, if I could shake
    The crushing weight of expectations
    Would that free some room up for joy?
    Or relaxation? Or simple pleasure?
    Instead, we measure this growing pressure
    Keeps growing, keep going
    'Cause all we know is

    Pressure like a drip, drip, drip, that'll never stop, whoa
    Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip, 'til you just go pop, whoa-oh-oh
    Give it to your sister, it doesn't hurt and
    See if she can handle every family burden
    Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks
    No mistakes, just
    Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa
    Pressure like a tick, tick, tick, 'til it's ready to blow, whoa-oh-oh
    Give it to your sister and never wonder
    If the same pressure would've pulled you under
    Who am I if I don't have what it takes?
    No cracks, no breaks
    No mistakes, no pressure Writer/s: Lin-Manuel Miranda
    Publisher: Walt Disney Music Company
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • EntancoBetter than We Dont Talk About Bruno by a mile
  • TemiloluwaHi I loved Encanto
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining Victims

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.