Story Behind The Song

Released in 1985, “Don’t Look Down” was one of the standout singles from Go West’s self-titled debut album. Written by the duo’s Peter Cox and Richard Drummie, the song further demonstrated their ability to blend sophisticated pop with elements of soul, funk and rock. Following the success of their early singles, “Don’t Look Down” reinforced Go West’s reputation for polished songwriting, memorable melodies and impeccably produced recordings.

The song is built around an uplifting message of confidence and perseverance, encouraging listeners to face challenges with optimism rather than fear. Peter Cox delivers a powerful and soulful vocal performance, while Richard Drummie’s crisp guitar work, shimmering keyboards and driving rhythm section create a rich, energetic sound. Produced by Gary Stevenson, the recording combines catchy hooks with an expansive arrangement, capturing the polished style that became synonymous with mid-1980s British pop.

“Don’t Look Down” helped establish Go West as one of the decade’s most accomplished pop duos, paving the way for further success throughout the second half of the 1980s. Their blend of accessible songwriting and outstanding musicianship earned them a loyal following both in the UK and internationally. Today, the song remains a favourite among fans of the era, admired for its infectious chorus, uplifting atmosphere and timeless production. It stands as one of the defining tracks from Go West’s impressive debut album and a lasting reminder of the duo’s talent for crafting sophisticated, radio-friendly pop music.

The song peaked at No. 13 in the UK charts on 7th December 1985.

Eighties Archive Song Number

EA-0052

Highest Chart Position

No. 13

Date Released

November 1985

Genre

Electronic, Pop, SynthPop

Date Of UK Top 40 Entry

30th November 1985

Record Label

CHRYSALIS RECORDS

Catalogue Number

GOW 3

ALL information on this page was obtained from numerous sources. These include The Official Charts website, Discogs, 45Cat, Polyhex, and many other sites.

Some images have been cleaned up using CHATGPT.

A-SIDE & B-SIDE COVERS

Go West - Don't Look Down - UK 7'' Cover - Front
UK 7'' Cover - Front
Go West - Don't Look Down - UK 7'' Cover - Back
UK 7'' Cover - Back

TRACK LISTING

A-Side Don’t Look Down (4:19)
(Peter Cox, Richard Drummie)
Produced By Gary Stevenson
B-Side Innocence (The Desperation Edit) (4:35)
(Peter Cox, Richard Drummie)
Produced By Gary Stevenson

CHART PERFORMANCE

UK Top 40 Chart Run [4 Weeks] – [8 Weeks] – 30th November 1985 – 18th January 1986
24
13
13
15
19
18
19
31

OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS

Don’t Look Down (Single Version) (4:19)
Don’t Look Down (7″ Mix) (4:06)
Don’t Look Down (The Stratospheric Mix) (6:03)
Don’t Look Down (Album Version) (3:52)

See ALL releases of ‘Don’t Look Down’ on Discogs.

OFFICIAL VIDEO

LYRICS

How much longer ’till the curtain rises?
First night stagefright always hypnotizes
Leading ladies never think about it
Live without it
Try to hide your fear of falling
Keep your eyes on me… I’m calling

Don’t look down girl
You know you’re holding aces
Don’t look down girl
Don’t give the game away

One more heartbeat and you walk the wire
Why wait? It’s too late to put out the fire
Almost strangers.. can you stop deceiving
Start believing
Try to hide your fear of falling
Keep your eyes on me.. I’m calling

Don’t look down girl
You know you’re holding aces
Don’t look down girl
Don’t give the game away

Even when you feel you can’t go on
Laughing at the rain you fool no one
If you don’t want to lose what you have found
Then don’t look down

Changing partners is just substitution
It’s no solution
Try to hide your fear of falling
Keep your eyes on me.. I’m calling

Don’t look down girl
You know you’re holding aces
Don’t look down girl
Don’t give the game away

Written by Peter Cox, Richard Drummie

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