Comments: 29

• Kip from Nb CanadaThis song helped me through a few tough years, 86-88. I would sit in my car and listen to it, crying. It was a release.
  I just recommended it to my 42-year-old son who is struggling.
  Very grateful for all music, but especially the songs that pull you through.
• Fred from Grand Rapids, MichiganMy friend told me that his brother thought the lyrics were "for every job, so many men, so many men on their knees". When he told me that, we laughed hysterically for about a quarter of an hour!
• Marekhlina from Slovakiabelieve me or not I was sitting in my car in Nothing hill W11 listening this song and all of sudden PG with his wife stopped by...we had a chat for around 15 minutes ...I was economic immigrant 2009 from central Europe at that time and that song was like a medicine to me...took a picture with him to keep that moment ...PETER THANKS AGAIN!!! PLS DONT GIVE UP! Marek...
  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156297709892014&set=picfp.658417013&type=3&theater
• Javier from Tegucigalpa, HondurasPoetry belongs to the needed ones. This song helps me understand that musicians really communicate that we all go through tribulations... even the ones in the "high" places. Whatever may come and whatever may go. It helped me cry and clean my soul through my tears... just like Churchill said in an Oxford graduation ceremony: never give up!!! Never Give Up!!!! NEVER GIVE UP. I struggled with crack addiction for 17 years. Thank you Peter.
• Ole from Copenhagen, DenmarkEven though this song is about unenployment, I think the song has helped many through tough times with depression
  Sure did help me back in 1997
  Thanks Peter !
• Joseph from Austin, TxI read that this song, as well as Peter's "breakdown", was due to a good friend's suicide-a suicide brought on by unemployment and depression. I know the feeling.
• Budoshi from Sandnessjøen, NorwayThe Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush-version is my favourite...
• Mel from Riverbank, CaLove this song, and do agree with others that the version with Paula Cole is best.. Great song, this one and Mercy Street make 'So' great, one of my favorite albums.
• Brad from Long Island, Nyabout Melanie Gabriel, she also sings "Down Side Up" with him, and they strap themselves into a harness and literally walk upside down on catwalk above the stage while singing. Typical theatrics of any Gabriel show which are always excellent
• Brad from Long Island, NyPeter's daughter Melanie has also performed this with him in live shows. I'd rate her as average at best. I agree with the notion that Paula Cole's contribution is really good.
• Mary from Phoenix, AzThis song was also used in a PSA for runaways...with a number at the end for them to call. I don't know if it was national, or just in Arizona.
• Bailey from Orlando, FlA very dear friend gave this song to me over 10 years ago after a serious bout of depression..suicide attempt..It pulled me through; as has done so for the last 10 years. Every time I feel I am at the bottom looking up, with despair and no hope , I play this song and I remember........ I am loved. I can't give up.
• Stuart from Kilmarnock, United KingdomI had a friend who used to train P Coy in the Parachute Regiment, and he would play this song to them near the end of their training, just as they were going into the big final make-or-break push.
• Norman from Londonderry, IrelandThis song was actualy written about the economic depression and huge unemployment in Britain in the early and mid 80's. The clue is in the lyric "For every job so many men....so many men no one needs"
• Stewart from Seattle, WaSteve from Ottawa: Thanks for the analysis. Helps to explain the song's uniqueness. Isn't it 6/8 rather than 6/4 time though (I'm not a professional musician so please excuse me if I am befuddled).
• Sofy from Montreal, CanadaThe bridge of the song is simply genius and so pognant... I prefer by a long run the version with Paula Cole it really gives a more melodic vibe to the song (VS the version with Kate Bush which is more robotic)
  BE-AU-TI-FUL !!!
• Ash from Charleston, WvThe bridge section of this song is one of Gabriel's shining moments. He belts out those lines like a seasoned gospel singer.
• Katie from Somewhere, NjThe Bono & Alicia Keys version is available exclusively for download off of iTunes in the US and UK music stores. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Keep A Child Alive charity, as this version was done to address the AIDS problem in Africa. The third verse from the original version is omitted.
• Bethan from Somerset, Uk.Bono and Alicia Keys recently recorded a new version of this song.
• Steve from Ottawa, CanadaThe song is in 6/4 time with the bassline accenting the 1 and 4, with the melody line accenting 1 and 5. It gives it a great tension with everything hanging up in the air on the 4 and then coming down to resolve on the 1. To me that, and the busy melody line punctuating a sparse, airy background, gives the verse it's great feel.. it really creates an air of solitude I think, which is broken in the verse & bridge when the voices come together on the 1&5.. a great integration of the music with the lyrics. At the end it breaks into a groove in 4/4 I guess cause everything's gonna be alright after all.. :)
• Jenny from Chicago, Ilthis song has gotten me through many many difficult times in my life.
• Andy from Sheffield, EnglandI always thought this was about the American Indians trying to fit into the newly established white Society. And trying to find work. "We were wanted all along, I was taught to fight and taught to win, I never thought I could fail" etc.
• AgustÃ?n from Santiago, ChilePeter Gabriel performed "Don't give up" as lead singer in october 1990's Amnesty International's concert "Desde Chile, Un Abrazo a la Esperanza", at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, with Sting and Sting's band as support band, in front of 75000 people. They, plus Sinnead O'Connor instead of original Kate Bush. It wasn't a good performance, it seemed Sinnead didn't know the lyrics very well.
  
• Rhett from Melbourne, Australiahas been used on alot of advertisments in australia.
• Steve from Seattle, WaThis song, pereformed by Maire Brennan and Michael McDonald, has also appeared on a Word Records Worship-Music collection called Streams. They changed a word or two in the lyrics. And it is unknown to this writer whether permission was ever secured? The Collection was produced by Brent Bourgois and released in 1999.
• Tara from Boston, Mathe paula cole version on the secret world (dvd and cd) is really good. their voices are fantastic together.
• Pete from Nowra, Australiagreat song ,great video clip
• Jim from Smalltown, Althought that this song was about Muhammed Ali/Cassius Clay !!
  interesting........
• Rowan from Tucson, AzOne of the more inspirational songs out there.

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