"Don't Give Up" is a song written by English rock musician Peter Gabriel and recorded as a duet with Kate Bush for Gabriel's album So. The single version was released as the second single from the album in the UK in 1986 and fifth in the United States in 1987. It spent eleven weeks in the UK Top 75 chart in 1986, peaking at number nine.
Gabriel drew inspiration from Dorothea Lange's images such as this, her most famous: "Migrant Mother".
The song was inspired by the Depression-era photographs of Dorothea Lange, showing poverty-stricken Americans in dust bowl conditions. Gabriel saw Lange's images in a 1973 book titled In This Proud Land. He felt that a song based on this was wholly appropriate to difficult economic conditions in England under Margaret Thatcher.[1] He composed lyrics within a situation about a man whose unemployment causes stress in his domestic relationship. The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation and despair; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement.
Gabriel originally wrote the song from a reference point of American roots music and he approached country singer Dolly Parton to sing it with him. However, Parton turned it down, so his friend Kate Bush took her place.[2]
Two videos were created for the song. The first, by Godley & Creme, consisted of a single take of the singers in an embrace, as the sun enters total eclipse and re-emerges; the second, by Jim Blashfield, featured Gabriel and Bush's faces superimposed over film of a town and its people in disrepair.
"Don't Give Up" was recorded by American recording artist Alicia Keys and Irish musician Bono.[5] Retitled "Don't Give Up (Africa)", the song was produced by Keys and Steve Lillywhite.[6][7] On December 6, 2005 the song was released as a single exclusively on iTunes and a ringtone version was released by Cingular Wireless.[6][8][9] The proceeds of the release went to the charity Keep a Child Alive, for which Keys is a spokesperson.[8]
Keys commented that "I love this song. And I love Bono. I really respect what he has done for Africa and how he has used his fame to do good in the world. I hope I can do half as much in my life".[10] Keys and Bono performed the song live at Keys' charity event the Black Ball, which raises money for the organization Keep A Child Alive.[11] The pair performed the song also on The Oprah Winfrey Show in October 2006.[12]
A cover version was recorded by Australian artist Shannon Noll and former Rogue Traders 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 beyondblue. It was the most added song to Australian radio in its first week.[15] 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. The music video features Noll and Bassingthwaighte in the studio recording the single.
The Shadows did an instrumental of the song on the album "Simply Shadows" in 1987.
Gregorian and Sarah Brightman covered this song, and it is found in Brightman's "The Harem Tour" Limited Edition and Gregorian's "Masters of Chant" albums.
Senegalese singer/guitarist Jimi Mbaye covered the song on his 2005 album "Yaye Digalma"
Tara MacLean covered the song on the Songs For Sunset album in 2006.
The songwriter/guitarist Shark from Wild Colonials and Dead Rock West singer Cindy Wasserman released the song in 2008. The proceeds of the record going to the charities Farm Aid and the Red Cross, to help the farmers affected by the floods of 2008. The sleeve design is an homage to the original Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush sleeve with similar typography.
In May 2009, a version by The Midway State featuring Lady Gaga appeared online. According to Lady Gaga the cover was done so "that young people would hear and learn something about Kate Bush." [17]
Dutch singer Chielie(.nl) (uncredited) sang the Gabriel part on a cover of the song (Bush part sung by also uncredited unknown female singer - Chielie and she never met for the recording but did their work separately) produced at Flowerhouse Studios of Haarlem, Holland, on a CD called 'Duet for lovers' (90.807-2 UK), released 1994 by PMF Records.
A version featuring Nicolai Dunger and Norwegian vocalist Silje Nergaard was included on "Reconnection", an album by Swedish guitarist/bassist Georg Wadenius, which was released in 2010.
David Archuleta covered the song (with Libbie Linton) on his 2012 album Begin.
Dr. Ring-Ding released a Rocksteady version of the song on his 2012 album Dr. Ring Ding Ska-Vaganza - Piping Hot, duetting with Skatalites singer Doreen Shaffer.
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