“Don’t Give Up,” the heart-stopping duet by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush from Gabriel’s 1986 album So, is a song about resilience in the face of despair. Inspired by Depression-era photographs by Dorothea Lange and the economic hardships under Margaret Thatcher’s UK, Gabriel reflects on the emotional toll of unemployment and isolation. In the verses, Gabriel expresses the feelings of a man in despair, while Bush’s choruses offer comforting words of hope. Originally intended as a solo, Gabriel sought Dolly Parton for the duet but ultimately collaborated with Bush, whose delicate vocals added a powerful layer of empathy and encouragement to the song.
