"Don't Give Up" is a song written by English rock musician
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...
and recorded as a duet with English singer
Kate Bush
Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Bush began writing songs at age 11. She was signed to EMI Records after David Gilmour of Pink Floyd helped produce a demo tape. In 1978, at the ...
for Gabriel's fifth solo
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
''
So'' (1986). An edited version was released as the third single from the album in the UK on 20 October 1986 and as the fourth single in the US in March 1987. It spent eleven weeks in the
UK Top 75 chart in 1986, peaking at number nine.
In 1987 the song won an
Ivor Novello Award
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Welsh entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and Musical composition, composing. They have been presented annually in London by the The Ivors Academy, Ivors Academy, formerly called the Britis ...
for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
Background
The song was inspired by the
Depression-era photographs of
Dorothea Lange, showing poverty-stricken Americans in
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. The phenomenon was caused by a combination of natural factors (severe drought) and hum ...
conditions.
[ Gabriel saw Lange's images in a book entitled ''In This Proud Land'' (1973) and felt that a song on this topic was appropriate. He also cited unemployment in the United Kingdom under the ]premiership of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 4 May 1979 when she accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to form a government, succeeding James Callaghan of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, and ended ...
as further inspiration.
Gabriel composed lyrics about a man whose unemployment causes stress in his domestic relationship. He had watched a TV program about the consequences of unemployment on family life, and said that it "played into my own problems at that time. I think a combination of that and domestic difficulties." The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement. The title was something that Gabriel's former wife, Jill, would say when he was experiencing emotional difficulties. "When he gets into very deep depressions, I am always saying don't give up. I think the song is very much about us."
Recording
Initial ideas for the song date back to 1981 during the recording of his fourth self-titled solo album, which took place at Ashcombe House, Somerset. Gabriel built the song around a tom-tom
A tom drum (also known as a tom-tom) is a cylindrical drum with no snares, named from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala language. It was added to the drum kit in the early part of the 20th century. Most toms range in size between in diameter, thoug ...
pattern with a three-against-four polyrhythm
Polyrhythm () is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rh ...
that he programmed onto a drum machine. He tuned the programmed tom-toms to different pitches with the intention of having Tony Levin
Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer specializing in electric bass guitars, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (19 ...
emulate the part on the bass guitar
The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
. Halfway through recording, Levin placed a nappy
A diaper (, North American English) or a nappy (British English, Australian English, Hiberno-English) is a type of underwear that allows the wearer to urinate or defecate without using a toilet, by absorbing or containing waste products to p ...
behind his strings to dampen the sound and achieve a softer tone. Levin had packed the nappies in his gig bag for his two-month-old daughter because he mistakenly thought that the products were not sold in the UK. Richard Tee also contributed piano, in the song's bridge, to infuse a gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
feel into the section. Gabriel attempted a few variations of the ending section, but eventually settled on an arrangement that he was satisfied with.
Gabriel developed the "don't give up" lyric and the verses early on, although he did not finalize the chorus until a few months after the melody was solidified. He did not conceive the song as a duet and originally sang all of the choruses himself, but later said that "the story would work better with a man–woman relationship." The initial demos of "Don't Give Up" were around seven minutes in duration, although Gabriel later decided to edit the song down.
Gabriel wrote the song from a reference point of American roots music
The term American folk music encompasses numerous music genres, variously known as ''traditional music'', ''traditional folk music'', ''contemporary folk music'', ''vernacular music,'' or ''roots music''. Many traditional songs have been sung ...
and approached country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
singer Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...
to sing it with him. However, Parton turned it down, so his friend Kate Bush took her place. Gabriel said that Bush was originally nervous about participating, but delivered an "excellent" vocal take on her second attempt. David Stallbaumer, who served as an assistant engineer for the sessions, thought that Bush's contributions improved the song "almost instantaneously".
Music videos
Two music videos were created for the song. The first, by Godley & Creme
Godley & Creme were an English rock duo formally established in Manchester in 1977 by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. The pair began releasing music as a duo after their departure from the rock band 10cc. In 1979, they directed their first music v ...
, is a single take of Gabriel and Bush, as they sing, in an embrace, while the sun behind them enters a total eclipse and re-emerges. Of the shoot, Gabriel remarked, "There are worse ways of earning a living." According to Gabriel, Godley & Creme suggested the idea of Bush and Gabriel holding each other for the entire video. The video was featured in the final broadcast of the channel Europa TV in November 1986.
A second video, directed by Jim Blashfield and produced by Melissa Marsland in 1988, features the singers' faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.
Legacy
In a 2014 interview, Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...
attributed his sobriety
Sobriety is the condition of not having any effects from alcohol (drug), alcohol and other psychoactive drug, drugs. Sobriety is also considered to be the natural state of a human being at Childbirth, birth. A person in a state of sobriety is ...
to the song, in particular the lyric from Bush, "Rest your head. You worry too much. It's going to be all right. When times get rough you can fall back on us. Don't give up." He states, "she ushplayed a big part in my rebirth. That record helped me so much."
Similarly, actor Matthew Perry
Matthew Langford Perry (August 19, 1969 – October 28, 2023) was an American and Canadian actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He gained international fame for starring as Chandler Bing on the NBC television sitcom ''Friends'' (1994– ...
(who struggled with substance and alcohol addiction) was enamored with the song; it was played at his funeral in November 2023 and was referenced in signed copies of his autobiography ''Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing'', which was released a year before his death. Of the song, Perry said in an interview, "It was so cool and I love that. I've been writing it when I sign the book. I always put 'Don't give up' because you shouldn't give up." Gabriel said in a 1989 interview that multiple people had approached him to say that "Don't Give Up" "came at a very good time in their life" and recalled an instance where "a well-known American comedian" told him that the song saved his life.
Live performances
The song was included in Gabriel's concert film ''Live in Athens 1987'' where he sang both parts and Secret World Live tour featuring singer Paula Cole. The DVD release of a performance in Italy in 1993 (released in 1994) included the duet. An all-orchestral recording featuring Ane Brun was released on Gabriel's ninth studio album '' New Blood'' (2011). During '' Back to Front Tour'' from 2012 to 2014, Gabriel performed the Song live with singer Jennie Abrahamson. During '' i/o The Tour'' in 2023, Gabriel performed the song live with cellist/pianist/singer Ayanna Witter-Johnson.
Track listing
Personnel
* Manu Katché
Manu Katché (born 27 October 1958) is a French drummer and songwriter of Ivorian descent. He has worked extensively as a session musician, notably with Sting and Peter Gabriel, and his solo albums as a bandleader are largely in the jazz fusio ...
– drums, percussion
* Tony Levin
Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer specializing in electric bass guitars, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (19 ...
– bass guitar
* David Rhodes – guitars
* Richard Tee – piano
* Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and human rights activist. He came to prominence as the original frontman of the rock band Genesis. He left the band in 1975 and launched a solo career wit ...
– vocals, CMI, Prophet
In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divinity, divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings ...
, Linn, piano
* Simon Clark – chorus CS-80
* Kate Bush
Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Bush began writing songs at age 11. She was signed to EMI Records after David Gilmour of Pink Floyd helped produce a demo tape. In 1978, at the ...
– guest vocals
* Kevin Killen - engineer and mixer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Other versions
Willie Nelson and Sinéad O'Connor version
The song was covered as a duet between American musician Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
and Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor
Shuhada' Sadaqat (born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor; , ; 8 December 1966 – 26 July 2023) was an Irish singer, songwriter, record producer and activist. Her debut studio album, ''The Lion and the Cobra'', was released in 1987 and achieve ...
in 1993. The single is included on Nelson's '' Across the Borderline'' studio album, produced by Don Was
Don Edward Fagenson (born September 13, 1952), known professionally as Don Was (), is an American musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the ...
, Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...
, and Roy Halee
Roy Decker Halee (born 1934) is an American record producer and engineer, best known for working with Simon & Garfunkel, both as a group and for their solo projects.
Early life
Halee grew up on Long Island, New York. His father, also named Roy ...
. O'Connor sings Kate Bush's parts in the song. In an interview with ''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', Nelson talked about the duet and how it was made. He said:
A music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
was made to accompany the song, featuring both singers. It has a sepia tone. It was reported that funds raised by sales of the single were in excess of $300,000.
Critical reception
Martin Monkman from AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
felt the duet is the "most stunning song" on the album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
, and "a brilliant piece of casting." He added, "Nelson and O'Connor's rendition is quietly triumphant and every bit as powerful as Gabriel and Bush's original." John Davis from ''Austin American-Statesman
The ''Austin American-Statesman'' is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is owned by Hearst Communications. The distribution of the following ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', '' ...
'' wrote, "The teaming of his crisp, autumnal baritone
A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...
with the ethereal, spun-steel counterpoint of O'Connor's voice on Gabriel's paean of hope, "Don't Give Up", is little short of haunting. It is arguably the album's most arresting interlude, as well as Nelson's most accomplished pass ever at a modern pop song. And it nearly did not happen at all." Bill DeYoung from '' Gainesville Sun'' described the duet as "heartfelt". Paul Freeman from ''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' called it "a striking duet". Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media
''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later m ...
'' remarked that Nelson's version "makes a rodeo queen out of his duet partner". Roger Morton from ''NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' felt the pair's version "is quite dignified enough to stand up on its own. It's an understated rendering which, a few country twangs aside, leaves the interaction between Nelson's grizzled tones and Sinead's frail quavers to do the work." An editor from ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving Greater Pittsburgh, metropolitan Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the fi ...
'' wrote that Nelson and O'Connor "make an odd but effective couple". David Zimmerman from ''USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' named it a "wonderful stop" on the album, noting its "hope-and-despair seesaw".
Track listing
# "Don't Give Up"
# "Don't Give Up" (instrumental)
Alicia Keys and Bono version
"Don't Give Up" was recorded by American recording artist Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer and songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys began composing songs at the age of 12 and was signed by Columbia Records at 15. After d ...
and Irish musician Bono
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...
. Retitled "Don't Give Up (Africa)", the song was produced by Keys and Steve Lillywhite
Stephen Alan Lillywhite (born 15 March 1955) is an English record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts The Alarm ...
. On 6 December 2005, the song was released as a single exclusively on iTunes
iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
and a ringtone version was released by Cingular Wireless. The proceeds of the release went to the charity Keep a Child Alive, for which Keys is a spokesperson. Keys commented that "I love this song. And I love Bono. I really respect what he has done for Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
and how he has used his fame to do good in the world. I hope I can do half as much in my life". Keys and Bono performed the song live at Keys' charity event the Black Ball, which raises money for the organization Keep A Child Alive. They performed the song also on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show
''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The show ran for twenty-five seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in which it broadcast 4,561 episodes. The show was taped i ...
'' in October 2006.
The recording of the song took place at the Oven Studios on Long Island
Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...
. Keys spoke of the recording session at the studio with Bono and Steve Lillywhite
Stephen Alan Lillywhite (born 15 March 1955) is an English record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts The Alarm ...
:
Track listing
Charts
Jann Klose and Annie Haslam version
Jann Klose
Jann Klose is a German pop singer-songwriter, who has released seven albums and two EPs. Based in New York City, Klose was raised in Kenya, South Africa, Germany, and northeast Ohio. His original songs have charted on Top 40 radio in the United ...
and Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
vocalist and painter Annie Haslam released their version, produced by Rave Tesar in June 2017. The recording features Jann Klose on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Annie Haslam on lead vocals, John Arbo on upright bass, Rob Mitzner on cajon and Rave Tesar on keys. Proceeds from the sale of the recording benefit Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...
's TutuDesk foundation.
Shannon Noll and Natalie Bassingthwaighte version
A cover version was recorded by Australian artist Shannon Noll
Shannon Noll (born 16 September 1975) is an Australian singer-songwriter who first came to prominence as runner-up of the first season of '' Australian Idol'' in 2003, which led to him being signed to Sony BMG. He has released five top-ten al ...
and former Rogue Traders
Rogue Traders is an Australian electronic rock band formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 2002 by mainstay James Ash on keyboards. In 1989, Ash met fellow original member Steve Davis in London while both were working as DJs. Before forming Rogue ...
frontwoman Natalie Bassingthwaighte. It was produced by Michael "fingaz" Mugisha who also produced hits for Jessica Mauboy, Big Brovaz and recorded for the compilation '' Home: Songs of Hope & Journey''. It was released as a charity single for the depression organisation Beyond Blue. It was the most added song to Australian radio in its first week. It made its debut at number seven on the Australian Singles Chart, and, in its second week, climbed to number two with a Platinum certification. The song was also performed live on the fifth season of ''Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
''. The music video features Noll and Bassingthwaighte in the studio recording the single.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Bibliography
*
{{Authority control
1980s ballads
1986 singles
1986 songs
1993 singles
2005 singles
2006 singles
Alicia Keys songs
Geffen Records singles
Kate Bush songs
Lady Gaga songs
Male–female vocal duets
Music videos directed by Godley and Creme
Music videos directed by Jim Blashfield
Natalie Bassingthwaighte songs
Peter Gabriel songs
Pop ballads
Rock ballads
Shannon Noll songs
Sinéad O'Connor songs
Song recordings produced by Daniel Lanois
Songs about loneliness
Songs about suicide
Songs written by Peter Gabriel
Sony BMG singles
Willie Nelson songs
Song recordings produced by Alicia Keys
Songs about depression