Don't Give Up
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush Lyrics


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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
'Cause 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 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
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
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

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

(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)

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel is a touching tribute to resilience, hope, and perseverance. The lyrics convey the message that life can be tough, and there are moments when it may seem like everything is going against you. But it's during those moments that one's true strength is revealed. The singer in the song is an individual who has faced numerous obstacles and has felt like giving up, but he is reminded that he is not alone.


The first few verses highlight the singer's growth in a proud and strong land, where he was taught to fight and win. However, he has found himself defeated with no fight left in him. He has changed his face and name, and feels that no one wants him when you lose. The chorus comes in as a reminder that he is not alone and has friends to lean on. The second verse speaks of the singer's realization that he is not immune to the difficulties of life. He is taken aback when he sees the earth and trees around his hometown burned down. Yet his friends still support him, and they urge him not to give up.


The song's tone is both melancholic and hopeful. The melody begins with a slow and somber piano and eventually builds to a powerful and uplifting chorus. Gabriel's voice carries the emotions of both despair and hope, where the vulnerability in his singing style allows the listener to feel connected to the song on a personal level. The bridge is the most powerful moment of the song, where the singer is determined to face whatever may come his way. The song ends with a message of support and the hope that the singer will find a place where they belong.


Overall, "Don't Give Up" is a poignant reminder to hold on to hope even in the darkest of times, and that one is never truly alone as long as there are friends and loved ones.


Line by Line Meaning

In this proud land we grew up strong
We were raised in a place where we were taught to have strength and pride in ourselves.


We were wanted all along
We were valued members of our community from the beginning.


I was taught to fight, taught to win
I learned how to confront life's challenges with courage and determination.


I never thought I could fail
I had so much faith in myself and what I could accomplish.


No fight left or so it seems
At this point in time, I feel like I am completely drained and defeated.


I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I have lost sight of all my hopes and aspirations for the future.


I've changed my face, I've changed my name
In an attempt to escape my problems, I have tried to reinvent myself.


But no one wants you when you lose
Despite my efforts to change, I am still not finding acceptance from those around me.


Don't give up
Don't lose hope and don't give up on yourself.


'Cause you have friends
You have people who care about you and will support you through this rough time.


You're not beaten yet
Even though you feel defeated, there is still hope for a better future.


I know you can make it good
I believe in your strength and ability to turn your situation around for the better.


Though I saw it all around
I witnessed other people struggling with similar issues all around me.


Never thought I could be affected
I was naive to think that my situation could not happen to me as well.


Thought that we'd be last to go
I never imagined that my community or I would be hit so hard by the struggles we are facing.


It is so strange the way things turn
Life is unpredictable and can change so quickly and drastically.


Drove the night toward my home
I journeyed home after a long and difficult journey.


The place that I was born, on the lakeside
I returned to my hometown, where I was born and grew up near a lake.


As daylight broke, I saw the earth
When the sun came up, I was able to see the destruction and devastation that had occurred.


The trees had burned down to the ground
The trees in my hometown had been destroyed by fire.


You still have us
Your family and friends are here for you and will not abandon you.


We don't need much of anything
All we need is each other to support and love one another.


'Cause somewhere there's a place
Although things are tough now, there is a better future waiting for you.


Where we belong
There is a place for us where we are accepted and valued.


Rest your head
Take a break from your worries and find some peace within yourself.


You worry too much
You are stressing yourself out and need to take a step back from your problems.


It's going to be alright
Despite the current struggles, things will eventually get better.


When times get rough
Things will not always be easy, and there will be struggles along the way.


You can fall back on us
You can rely on your friends and family for support when you need it.


Please don't give up
Do not abandon hope and persistence in the face of obstacles.


Got to walk out of here
I need to leave this situation behind and move on with my life.


I can't take anymore
I have reached my limit and cannot handle any more of these challenges.


Gonna stand on that bridge
I am ready to face my fears and take control of my future.


Keep my eyes down below
I will focus on the ground ahead and move forward, ignoring distractions and obstacles.


Whatever may come
Regardless of what the future may hold, I am prepared to face it head-on.


And whatever may go
I will remain resilient and persistent, even when faced with hardships.


That river's flowing
Life is constantly moving and changing, and we must go with the flow.


Moved on to another town
I left my hometown in search of a better life.


Tried hard to settle down
I attempted to create a stable and comfortable life for myself in my new town.


For every job, so many men
There are more job-seekers than jobs available in this town.


So many men no-one needs
Many capable and talented men are going unemployed, making it even harder to find stability.


No reason to be ashamed
There is nothing to be embarrassed about when struggling, and it is important to seek help when needed.


You're not the only one
Other people around you are going through similar struggles and can empathize and support you.


We're proud of who you are
Despite your hardships, we are proud of your strength and resilience.


You know it's never been easy
Life is full of challenges and obstacles, and it has never been effortless for anyone.


'Cause I believe there's a place
I have faith that there is a better future ahead of you, where you belong and will thrive.


There's a place where we belong
There is a place where we are accepted, loved, and valued for being ourselves.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Gabriel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@patrickscanlon544

I almost gave up. I came back from the Gulf War broken and hopeless. I turned to the drink and isolated myself. When things were at their worst my father came and brought me home and helped me in his gentle way, where army doctors and their pills couldn’t. He made me see that there was peace and goodness in the world. He passed seven years ago and I miss him every day. I’m still strong Da.

@coralbay00

Inspirational brother. Continue doing him proud as I can assure you he still sees you 🤜🤛

@PeterNgola

Thank you for your service Patrick , Take care of yourself mate!

@williammcmillan1108

sorry /i lost my dad as well

@danielblanchet7577

Sorry for your loss, I know what it feels like believe me, my wife passed 8 years ago and I still miss her, been alone ever since 'cos no one can replace her and no one ever will ! God it's hard !!!

@mystavalon200

Awsome story
Stay strong 💪

577 More Replies...

@jenniferjanejames2873

One of the most powerful songs for anyone struggling.

@gabecollett

Yes. Masterpiece.

@sylvainnouet6447

❤❤❤

@tetraquark2402

I keep returning to it

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