This song literally saved Elton John's life, helping him to stay sober while he listening to kate bush singing “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."
It's a gorgeous song - Gabriel was inspired by pictures of Depression-era USA (can't remember the photographer who took pictures of various people enduring poverty and hardship in the so-called land of opportunity the USA portrayed itself as) but he also felt a connection between the Depression and the economic hardship brought in by the UK Conservative government of the 1980s. Gabriel represents the suffering, hardship and hopelessness of the long-term unemployed, whilst Bush is the voice of hope and dreaming. It never ceases to make me think of my own period of hopelessness during 2009-2011.
If you notice the back ground changes like an eclipse. This is so beautiful and nobody tries to outdo Each other. Lovely reaction, lovely smile, lovely you😅😅😅❤
One of the most beautiful, moving songs ever written or performed in my humble opinion. It was inspired by specific events, sure, but it doesn't matter, anyone, anywhere, anytime, can be soothed and inspired by this. Thank you for this bit of loveliness in my day. ❤
The back and forth between the man who is convinced that there is no hope to anything in his life compared to the woman who wants to show him that there IS hope always breaks my heart. It's an absolutely beautiful song that Peter and Kate have made. And... my eyes are watering 🙏💗
This song is often referred to as a 'Depression-era' song, and I know people think first of the US/Europe in the 1930s, but tbh, the 1980s was a Depression Era of its own, and this song sits slap-bang in the middle of that depression and I'm sure it saved many lives. As a fan of both Bush and Gabriel for years prior to this, it came as a wonderful gift, it stands out as one of the most positive and hopeful songs of its time, and the video is entrancing.
Oh, I’m so happy that you reacted to “Don’t give up”. I was waiting for it, being a PG and KB fan 😊 This is such a beautiful song and it deeply impacted on many souls. Even Elton John said that this song did help him in a very dark moment of his life. Anyway, as usual I loved your video ❤ p. s. Tony Levin is great with his bass!
Someone must be cutting onions in my office because my eyes are very watery now. Seriously though, I remember hearing this song for the first time at 17 and falling in love with it when it first came out. When driving with my parents from NY to FL I listened to my cassette of Peter Gabriel's album So the entire way. Peter Gabriel has the ability to perfectly convey the depths of despair and Kate Bush's voice is able to convey such love and concern. I revisit this song often.
This song was inspired by several hardship stories but mainly by the American Depression. The open lyrics “In this proud land…” was the title of a book Peter read about the Depression, which included photographs of hardship taken at that time by among others Dorothea Lange. Because of the American backstory Peter originally wanted to record the song with Dolly Parton. But her office declined and so he turned to his good friend and previous collaborator Kate Bush. And most people are glad that he did.
So jealous that you had the chance to listen to this track for the first time, it only ever happens once!!! This song is definitely highly ranked in my own personal list of best songs of all time, never fails to move me, a masterpiece from two geniuses.
A great song performed by two great singers. And to think he originally wanted Dolly Parton for this. That she didn't respond (it has long been thought that she probably didn't know much about him at that point)meant that he turned to Kate Bush and she gave one of her usual spellbinding performances. One of the strengths of this this song that has always interested me is that when he sings it is in the singular and predominately in the past tense, whereas when she sings it always in the plural and in the present. He sings about me and I, what I have lost and what the past took from me, she sings about us and we, what we have , and what the present offers us. it's just great song writing from Peter Gabriel. To me, this is one of three great Kate Bush genuine duets - this one, then also her duet with Elton John "Snowed in at Wheeler Street," and my personal favourite "Sister and Brother" with Midge Ure which to me is just glorious.
When these two work together, it's magic ❤ Alas, I know of only one other duet they did, Another Day (definitely merits a viewing), and Kate doing vocals on Games Witout Frontiers. Wish there was more.
This beautiful track has the ability to always make my eyes run involuntarily. I know it so well and it has an incredible meaning to me as there have been many times Ive come close to actually giving up. Some songs just hit differently and this is most definitely one of them. Lovely to see you picked up on his falsetto too. x
I liked this video before even watching it! Lol I watched a brilliant documentary, here in the UK, about Peter Gabriel’s “So” album, which includes this song. He said that one of the things that inspired him to write this song, was seeing the famous Depression era photo “Migrant Mother” The bassist also said in the doc that when recording this song, his child was still a toddler and it gave him the idea to put a diaper under the bass strings to mute the sound so that’s what created that bass sound lol 😂
This is near perfect - the song, the vid, and them. Wouldn't change a thing. I never knew about the Depression era inspiration for the song. I always understood it as it related to the UK and the men who used to be in the mining, shipping, and other industries, suddenly left feeling worthless and invisible, and desperate for jobs under a cruel Tory government.
