Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush“. The song lyrics are beautiful and ideal for English learners and include many interesting language topics, such as relative clauses and the present perfect
Let’s start with some information about the song!
Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
Don’t Give Up is a song written by Peter Gabriel and recorded as a duet with Kate Bush. This listening activity includes information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: Don’t give up
- Album: So
- Date of release: October 1986
- Genre: Art rock, pop rock
- Length of the song: 6 minutes and 32 seconds.
- Writer: Peter Gabriel
- Produced by: Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel
Interesting Information about the Song
The song “Don’t Give Up” was inspired by the haunting Depression-era photographs taken by Dorothea Lange, which depicted poverty-stricken Americans struggling to survive in dust bowl conditions. Peter Gabriel discovered these images in a 1973 book titled In This Proud Land and was deeply moved by the resilience they captured. This led him to write lyrics that explore the emotional toll of unemployment on a man and its impact on his domestic life.
Gabriel’s poignant lyrics resonated with the economic challenges faced by many in England during Margaret Thatcher’s era, making the song especially relevant at the time of its release. The song also features Kate Bush, whose ethereal vocals provide a comforting counterpoint to Gabriel’s portrayal of despair, embodying the role of a supportive partner offering hope and reassurance.
“Don’t Give Up” became a powerful anthem for those facing adversity, offering a message of perseverance and solidarity that continues to resonate with listeners today.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many examples of relative clauses and present perfect. Here are some expressions that may be useful to students:
- I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
- I’ve changed my face
- I’ve changed my name
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete these sentences while listening to the song:
- “In this proud land we grew up ________, we were wanted all along.”
- “I am a man whose dreams have all ________.”
- “But no one wants you when you ________.”
- “The trees had burned down to the ________.”
- “You know it’s never been ________, don’t give up.”
Gap-Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Deserted – Abandoned or left behind.
- Affect – To have an influence or impact on something.
- Ashamed – Feeling embarrassed or guilty about something.
- Settle – To establish a home or place of residence.
- Flowing – Moving in a smooth and continuous way.
- Proud – Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of achievements.
- Rough – Difficult or challenging in nature.
Complete these sentences with the words provided above:
Deserted, Ashamed, Affect, Settle, Proud, Rough, Flowing
- After the fire, the town looked completely ________, with no one around.
- The economic crisis didn’t ________ him at first, but eventually, it took its toll.
- She felt ________ after making a mistake during the performance.
- They decided to ________ in the small village near the mountains.
- The river was ________ rapidly after the heavy rain.
- He was ________ of his accomplishments and shared them with his family.
- It was a ________ year, but they managed to get through it together.
Source: Wikipedia
