David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, … Read Full Bio ↴David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, Godspell in 1971. Two years later, he starred in the film That'll Be The Day (1973) and recorded a major hit single, "Rock On" (which he wrote himself), in the same year. A second single, "Lamplight", also reached the British Top 10.
In the 1970s, Essex emerged as one of the UK's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade included a pair of Number One singles : "Gonna Make You A Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success; and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful singalong. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. In 1976, Essex covered the Beatles song, “Yesterday”, for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X 'he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade'.
In 1978, he appeared on Jeff Wayne's concept album, a musical version of The War of the Worlds, as the Artilleryman. The two album set remains a bestseller.
In the same year, Essex played the character Che, loosely based on Che Guevara, in the original production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, and his recording of the show's "Oh What a Circus" reached Number 3. Two years later, he starred in the film Silver Dream Racer; and the soundtrack song "Silver Dream Machine" was yet another Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart. In 1985, he wrote and starred as Fletcher Christian in the West End musical Mutiny!, based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The score produced two more hit singles, including "Tahiti," his tenth Top 10 success.
Essex has continued to perform in all areas of show business, to varying degrees of success. A 1989 sitcom, "The River", achieved good ratings. In 1991, a compilation entitled His Greatest Hits reached Number 13; a 1993 album, Cover Shot, peaked at Number 3. His autobiography, A Charmed Life, was published in 2002, and became a bestseller.
In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He still tours the UK on a yearly basis and releases albums through his website. Surprisingly, despite his long and thriving British career, he remains largely unknown in the United States. "Rock On" reached Number 5 in 1974, and was his only Billboard Top 40 hit single.
The grandson of an Irish Traveller, Essex told Jake Bowers of the BBC's Rokker Radio, a programme for Gypsies and Travellers, on 30th July 2006, that he has always been openly proud of his Traveller roots, but that having moved to the US, Essex has said he feels it inappropriate for him to continue as Patron of Britain's National Gypsy Council, which works for equal rights, education, and services for Romany and Irish Travellers.
In 2005, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Saint Etienne's album Tales from Turnpike House. Also that year, he appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Bring Back...The Christmas Number One.
Essex was due to join the cast of soap opera EastEnders, in early 2006, as new character Jack Edwards. However, the role was expanded beyond the three weeks planned, and Essex was unable to commit the time. The role instead went to Nicky Henson.
A model and recording of Essex is featured in the museum of West Ham United Football Club. In the recording, he explains his reasons for supporting West Ham and his love of the team. He remains a popular, hard working and respected star, who has nevertheless not achieved a more global presence.

Heart On My Sleeve
David Essex Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I were an actor on the silver screen
And all the pressures got me down
I wonder would you stay around
Once in a while

And if I were a singer in a rock and roll band
That never quite got off the ground
I wonder would you be around

Once in a while

Help me down this lonely road won't ya
Help me carry this load to ya
I did try once but I wanna try twice
Cos I wore my heart on my sleeve
And my jacket got torn
And I just don't think that I can wear it

And if I were a failure
Would you walk away?
Or would you stay here by my side?
Give me back my sense of pride
All over again, do it again

Help me down this lonely road won't ya
Help me carry this load to ya
I did try once but I wanna try twice
Cos I wore my heart on my sleeve
And my jacket got torn
And I just don't think that I can wear it again

Cos I wore my heart on my sleeve

And my jacket got torn
And I just don't think that I can wear it again.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Essex's song "Heart On My Sleeve" explore feelings of vulnerability and the fear of rejection in a romantic relationship. The song opens with the singer imagining different scenarios in which he might be tested and wonders whether his partner would be there for him "once in a while." He muses on the possibility of failure and questions whether his partner's affection is contingent on his success or merely on his ability to wear his heart on his sleeve.

Throughout the song, the singer expresses a deep longing for emotional support and the courage to try again after being hurt. He pleads for his partner to "help me down this lonely road" and "carry this load" of emotional baggage with him. Despite his fear of being hurt again and his hesitation to wear his heart on his sleeve once more, the singer ultimately realizes that he cannot give up on love and must try again to regain his sense of pride.

Overall, the lyrics of "Heart On My Sleeve" are a powerful reminder of the importance of vulnerability and emotional honesty in romantic relationships, as well as the courage it takes to open oneself up to the possibility of rejection and hurt.

Line by Line Meaning

If I were an actor on the silver screen
If I were famous and in the public eye

And all the pressures got me down
And the stress of fame overwhelmed me

I wonder would you stay around
I wonder if you would still support me

Once in a while
Even if it's only occasionally

And if I were a singer in a rock and roll band
If I were pursuing my dreams in music

That never quite got off the ground
But my career never took off

I wonder would you be around
I wonder if you would stick by me

Once in a while
Even if it's only occasionally

Help me down this lonely road won't ya
I need your support through hard times

Help me carry this load to ya
Help me with my problems

I did try once but I wanna try twice
I failed before but I want to keep trying

Cos I wore my heart on my sleeve
Because I was open and vulnerable with you

And my jacket got torn
But you hurt me deeply

And I just don't think that I can wear it
I don't know if I can be vulnerable again

And if I were a failure
If I disappointed you

Would you walk away?
Would you leave me?

Or would you stay here by my side?
Would you support me through tough times?

Give me back my sense of pride
Help me feel confident again

All over again, do it again
Start anew with our relationship

Cos I wore my heart on my sleeve
Because I was open and vulnerable with you

And my jacket got torn
But you hurt me deeply

And I just don't think that I can wear it again
I don't know if I can be vulnerable again

Writer(s): David Essex, Stephen Ernest Colyer

Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@genesbitch

12y↑3

I wasn't born until 1988 but God this man can still make me swoon! Thank God for Youtube! Going to see him next month for the 5th time, can't wait! <3