The lyrics tell the story of a man whose unemployment has pushed him to the edge of despair—a "man whose dreams have all deserted". The Dynamic: Despair vs. Encouragement
The song’s roots are surprisingly historical. Gabriel was inspired by the haunting Depression-era photographs of , which depicted poverty-stricken Americans during the Dust Bowl. He saw a direct parallel between those images and the difficult economic conditions in England under Margaret Thatcher.
Offers a soft, persistent anchor ("Don't give up, 'cause you have friends... you're not beaten yet").