The song was inspired by the
Depression-era photographs of
Dorothea Lange, showing poverty-stricken Americans in
Dust Bowl conditions.
[1] 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.
[2] He composed lyrics about a man whose unemployment causes stress in his domestic relationship. The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation, loneliness 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.
[3]
Who is an unemployed striker at present???