Songfacts®:

• The lead single from Wildness, Snow Patrol's first record in seven years, the lyrics reflect lead singer and songwriter, Gary Lightbody's search for inspiration during the barren period. He explained:
  
  "'Don't Give In' was originally about a friend going through a tough time but the more I wrote into it I realized it was about me and the struggle of making the album - which took 5 years and was not easy - coupled with the struggle with depression I've had since I was a kid, so it has become the talisman of the album. The song that became a self-fulfilling prophecy."
• Gary Lightbody told Billboard that Snow Patrol chose to lead Wildness with this track as the band wanted to show how they had moved on musically, as well as it being "a strong message" and "a great song." He added:
  
  "The unfortunate thing for me is it's the hardest song to sing on the record, by a long way. So I've been struggling with that a little bit."