Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush – Don’t give up

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

don’t give up
‘cos you have friends
don’t give up
you’re not beaten yet
don’t give up
I know you can make it good

though I saw it all around
never thought that I could be affected
thought that we’d be the 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
we don’t need much of anything
don’t give up
’cause somewhere there’s a place
where we belong

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 anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river’s flowing
that river’s flowing

moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs

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 now
we’re proud of who you are
don’t give up
you know it’s never been easy
don’t give up
’cause I believe there’s a place
there’s a place where we belong

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Two videos were made. One of the promos showed Bush and Gabriel hugging for the duration of the song. Co-director Kevin Godley recalled in Q Magazine August 2008: “There wasn’t a sexual connotation, just one of mutual support. But the song isn’t sentimental or nostalgic, just incredibly moving.”

Gabriel: “The basic idea is that handling failure is one of the hardest things we have to learn to do.”

Peter Gabriel’s then-wife Jill told Q Magazine that she inspired this song. She said: “It’s about us. When (Peter) gets into one of his deep depressions, I am always saying, Don’t give up.”

Thanks to my buddy Dave for sending me this song. I think that throughout life, I have probably had more “our song, your song, my song” moments with you than anyone else I have ever met. Probably because, in general, we’ve shared so many deep and profound moments of our lives with each other, whether joys, sorrows, or just every day mundane moments, that there is simply more depth to our relationship than is possible with most people. There are a lot of songs (and entire beatles albums!) that I listen to and can’t help but think of you. Add this song to the list. I love you, man! 🙂