Don’t Give Up (Live) [Athens 1987] Lyrics
"Song about a man and a woman faced with a problem of losing a job. It's called 'Don't Give Up'."
[Verse 1]
In this proud land, we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
[Chorus]
Don't give up 'cause you have friends
Don't give up, you're not beaten yet
Don't give up, I know you can make it good
[Verse 2]
Though I saw it all around
Never thought that I could be affected
Thought that we'd be last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
Don't give up, you still have us
Don't give up, you're not the only one
Don't give up, somewhere there's a place where we belong
[Bridge]
Rest your head, you worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough, you can fall back on us
Don't give up, please don't give up
Got to walk out of here, I can't take any more
Gonna stand on that bridge, keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come and whatever may go
That river's flowing, that river's flowing
[Verse 3]
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
[Chorus]
Don't give up 'cause you have friends
Don't give up, you're not the only one
Don't give up, no reason to be ashamed
Don't give up, you still have us
Don't give up, know it's never been easy
Don't give up, know how they're always with you
Don't give up 'cause somewhere there's a place
There's a place where we belong
[Outro]
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, your turn
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, hey!
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up, hey!
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
About
“Don’t Give Up” is the fifth single released from Peter Gabriel’s 1986 album So. It was a top 10 hit in the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands, and a minor hit in the US.
The song is a duet with Kate Bush, who’d sang backup on Gabriel’s third album, commonly known as Melt. Peter Gabriel’s original choice for the duet was Dolly Parton, but she turned the offer down – something he was later thankful for in light of how well the song turned out with Bush’s vocals.
The song is inspired by the Depression-era photography of Dorothea Lange. Gabriel discovered her photography through a book of FSA photography titled In This Proud Land. Gabriel saw a parallel between the ravaged Depression-era farmers and those suffering from the economic downturn in Margaret Thatcher’s Britain – he wrote the song as the narrative of a man who’d lost his job to Thatcher’s economic policies.
Gabriel has shared that many people have informed him over the years that listening to this song helped them change their mind about committing suicide.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 10.Don’t Give Up (Live) [Athens 1987]
