Peter Gabriel’s voice has always had a unique and penetrating quality that seems to tap into the human condition. His 1986 record “So,” is one of my top twenty records of all time. With the help of Kate Bush’s voice, “Don’t Give Up,” is a song that reaches out to the hardships we face and has inspired me and helped me for many years.
There are several stories about how Gabriel was inspired to write “Don’t Give Up.” His wife at the time claimed to have shown him a newspaper story about a young mother’s suicide, and that was the main impetus for the song. Gabriel also mentioned Depression-era photographs as inspiring the notion of overcoming adversity. Some also claim Gabriel was undergoing his own dark period when he wrote the song.
I think it’s apropo for us now.
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 failNo 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
