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.

Lamplight
David Essex Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I, sat down
She gonna get a lamplight
eh eh eh eh eh eh, eh

Babe I see your lamplight
Shining from your window
Babe I see your lamplight
Let it shine on me, uhuh

Baby see your window
Baby do you feel low
Waiting on your fear, no
Waiting on me

But I don't really
Wanna go alone
But I get the feeling
I better get on home

Ooh baby, would I look right
Climbing up the drainpipe
Baby would it feel right
If I stayed all night

And I don't really
Wanna go alone
Should I pack my bag
And get on out, get home

Got me rocking and reeling
Reeling and feeling
Gotta get to you babe
Just gotta get through, ooh ooh

I can see lamplight
Shining from your window
Babe I see your lamplight
And it shine on me, uhuh
It shine on me, uhuh
Shine on me, uhuh
Shine on me, uhuh

Shine on, me
Ah, Shine on, me
Now now now shine on, me
A should a shine on, me
Yeah? shine a shine on, wooh on me
I'm gonna shine on, me
Mmnot gonna shine on, me
Mmm gonna shine on, me
My cha cha cha cha

Wooh on me
Mmm gonna shine on, me

cha cha cha, on, me
cha cha ha ha ha

Overall Meaning

The beginning of the song sets a romantic tone, with the singer declaring that he is sitting and waiting for someone who is "gonna get a lamplight." This person could be someone who is outside in the dark and needs a light to guide them home or someone who is inside and is about to turn on a light, indicating that they are ready for company. The chorus repeats the phrase "Babe I see your lamplight, shining from your window" two times, emphasizing the light that is drawing the singer in. They want the light to shine on them, indicating that they want to be welcomed into the other person's life and shown affection.

The second verse suggests that the person on the other side of the light is feeling lonely or upset. The singer asks if they "feel low" and suggests that they are waiting for the singer to come over. However, the singer is hesitant to go alone, perhaps indicating that they are wary of being rejected or hurt. The repetition of "I don't really wanna go alone" emphasizes this hesitation. However, the desire to be with this person is overwhelming, as shown in lines such as "Got me rocking and reeling, reeling and feeling, gotta get to you babe, just gotta get through."

The repeated "Shine on me" at the end of the song suggests that the singer has decided to take the risk and go to the other person's house. They want the other person's light to shine on them in a figurative sense, indicating that they want affection and validation. The repetition of the phrase suggests a sense of urgency and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

I, sat down
The singer is starting his story from the moment he sat down.

She gonna get a lamplight eh eh eh eh eh eh, eh
Someone is planning to turn on their lamplight, and the singer makes a humming sound to indicate anticipation.

Babe I see your lamplight Shining from your window Babe I see your lamplight Let it shine on me, uhuh
The singer sees the lamplight on in the window of the person he's thinking about, and he wants it to shine on him too.

Baby see your window Baby do you feel low Waiting on your fear, no Waiting on me
The artist urges the person behind the window to look out, asks if they're feeling sad, and tells them not to be scared of him.

But I don't really Wanna go alone But I get the feeling I better get on home
The artist is hesitant to go see the person alone because of a certain feeling he has, but decides he needs to go home.

Ooh baby, would I look right Climbing up the drainpipe Baby would it feel right If I stayed all night
The singer is contemplating climbing up to the person's window and staying overnight, but wonders if it's the right thing to do.

And I don't really Wanna go alone Should I pack my bag And get on out, get home
Again, the singer is unsure about going alone and considers leaving instead.

Got me rocking and reeling Reeling and feeling Gotta get to you babe Just gotta get through, ooh ooh
The artist is excited and emotional about seeing the person, and feels like he needs to get to them.

I can see lamplight Shining from your window Babe I see your lamplight And it shine on me, uhuh It shine on me, uhuh Shine on me, uhuh Shine on me, uhuh
The artist repeats his desire for the person's lamplight to shine on him, creating a sense of urgency.

Shine on, me Ah, Shine on, me Now now now shine on, me A should a shine on, me Yeah? shine a shine on, wooh on me I'm gonna shine on, me Mmnot gonna shine on, me Mmm gonna shine on, me My cha cha cha cha Wooh on me Mmm gonna shine on, me cha cha cha, on, me cha cha ha ha ha
The artist continues to repeat the phrase 'shine on me', accompanied by nonsensical sounds and a reference to his cha cha dance, perhaps indicating his eagerness to see the person.

Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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5y↑8

This is my all-time favourite song from David Essex,and I was 6 years old when this single released in the UK,and also I would like to dedicate this song to one of the best workers,who like David Essex so much.