Now playing

Dont Give Up

Chords
4.8351 votes
Aminor
90BPM
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
[Verse]
In Amthis proud land we grew up strong
We were Cwanted all along
I was Gtaught to fight, taught to win
I never Amthought I could fail
AmNo fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose Cdreams have all deserted
I've changed my Gface, I've changed my name
But no one Amwants you when you lose
[Chorus]
FDon't Cmaj7give up - 'cos you F9have friends
FDon't Cgive up - you're not F9beaten yet
FDon't C/Egive up - I Fknow you can Gmake it good
[Verse]
AmThough I saw it all around
Never thought that CI could be affected
Thought that weG'd be last to go
It is so Amstrange the way things turn
AmDrove the night toward my home
The place that I was Cborn, on the lakeside
As daylight Gbroke, I saw the earth
The trees had Amburned down to the ground
[Chorus]
F9Don't Cgive up - you sF9till have us
FDon't C/Egive up - we don't nF9eed much of anything
F   C/E F   G  C  
Don't give up - 'cos somewhere there's a place where we belong
[Bridge]
Rest your GheadG4  G  
You worry too CmuchF  C  
It's going to be alGrightG4  G  
When Ctimes get C7rough, you can fall Fback on uCs,
Don't give Cup, Gplease donC't give upF  C  
Got to wCalk out of here, I can't Gtake anymore
Gonna Cstand on that C7bridge, keep my Feyes down below
WhatCever may come and whatGever may go,
That riverC's flowing, Gthat riverC's flowing
[Verse]
AmMoved on to another town
Tried Chard to settle down
For evGery job, so many men
So many Ammen no-one needs
[Chorus]
F9Don't Cgive up - 'cos Amyou have friends
FDon't Cgive up - you're not tAmhe only one
FDon't Cgive up - no rF9eason to be ashamed
FDon't Cgive up - you F9still have us
FDon't Cgive up now - we're pF9roud of who you are
FDon't Cgive up - you know it's F9never been easy
FDon't Cgive up - 'cos I beFlieve there's Ga place
There's a place where we beClong
[Outro]
(Cm bass riff)
CDon't Dgive Amup, Cdon't gDive Amup ...
All chords in this song (10)

The story behind the song

"Don't Give Up" captures the feeling of a man struggling with unemployment, the stress weighing on his domestic relationship. Inspired by Dorothea Lange's Depression-era photographs of Americans in Dust Bowl conditions, and by unemployment in the UK, Peter Gabriel wrote this duet for his 1986 album So. It's a song about finding strength and reassurance when everything feels lost, a reminder that "we don't need much of anything" to make it good again. At its heart, it's a tender plea for resilience in the face of hardship.

Story time

Dont Give Up

Goldie
Dont Give Up

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

About Dont Give Up Chords by Peter Gabriel

Learn how to play Dont Give Up by Peter Gabriel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dont Give Up chords”, “Dont Give Up guitar chords”, or “Peter Gabriel Dont Give Up chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Dont Give Up chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dont Give Up lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, G, F, Cmaj7, F9.

FAQ — Dont Give Up by Peter Gabriel

How do I play "Dont Give Up" by Peter Gabriel on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Dont Give Up" by Peter Gabriel on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Dont Give Up" by Peter Gabriel free?

Yes. The chords for "Dont Give Up" by Peter Gabriel are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Dont Give Up" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Dont Give Up" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Dont Give Up"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Dont Give Up" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Dont Give Up" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Dont Give Up" by Peter Gabriel with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Peter Gabriel below.

What key is "Dont Give Up" in?

The chords for "Dont Give Up" show the original chord names (including Am, C, G, F, Cmaj7, F9). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.

Report a problem with this sheet · Copyright concern?