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.
On And On
David Essex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A song dat come and go
Beneath the chord
A melody that seems to linger on
You're on and on
A movie queen
The sequin goddess of the movie screen
You're on and on
You're my song
Her clown can cry
His tears will fill our eyes
The memories that you've seen
Were made of velvetine
Your yesterdays have gone
But yesterdays live on
You're on and on
A magic spell
A shooting star
That sound like a silver bell
Something out of heaven must have fell
You're on and on
Oh let it ring
The magic a magician gets to sing
Let me be your blue eyed harlequin
You're on and on
You're on and on
You're my song
You're on and on
You're my song
The lyrics to David Essex's "On And On" paint a picture of a timeless love that is likened to a song that never fades away. The opening lines "You're like a song, a song dat come and go, Beneath the chord, a melody that seems to linger on" suggest that the object of his affection is something that's always there in the background, even if it's not always at the forefront of his mind. The imagery of a melody that lingers on further emphasizes this point.
In the following lines, the love interest is compared to a movie queen, a picture of a picture that he has seen. This suggests that she is someone who is larger-than-life, perhaps even unattainable, but someone he can still admire from afar. The repeated refrain of "You're on and on, you're my song" reinforces this idea, that the love is ever-present in his life.
The lyrics then turn to a more abstract description of the love, as a magic spell or a shooting star. The line "That sound like a silver bell, Something out of heaven must have fell" further emphasizes the idea that this love is something special and other-worldly.
Overall, the lyrics to "On And On" express a love that is both enduring and transcendent, something that is always present even if it's not always at the forefront of his mind.
Line by Line Meaning
You're like a song
You are like a melody that resonates within the depths of my soul.
A song dat come and go
Your presence is fleeting, like a song that ends too soon.
Beneath the chord
Within the harmonious rhythm of life, you are a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
A melody that seems to linger on
Your essence stays with me long after you're gone, like a melody that continues to play in my mind.
You're on and on
You persist in my thoughts and emotions, never-ending and always present.
A movie queen
You are a shimmering star, captivating and awe-inspiring like a Hollywood actress.
The sequin goddess of the movie screen
Your radiance is like the sparkling sequins on a goddess's gown, illuminating the silver screen.
Picture of a picture that I've seen
Your image is etched in my memory, like a photograph of a photograph that I've viewed.
Her clown can cry
Even a jester can weep in the presence of your beauty and grace.
His tears will fill our eyes
Your charisma is powerful enough to bring tears to the eyes of onlookers.
The memories that you've seen
You have experienced unforgettable moments that are forever ingrained in your mind.
Were made of velvetine
The memories are soft and smooth, like velvet, evoking a sense of comfort and luxury.
Your yesterdays have gone
The past is behind you, and you have moved on from what has been.
But yesterdays live on
Memories of the past are still vivid in your mind, and they continue to hold meaning and significance.
A magic spell
Your presence has a mysterious, enchanting quality that captivates those around you.
A shooting star
You are rare and magical, like a shooting star that flashes across the sky.
That sound like a silver bell
Your voice is sweet and melodious, like the soft sound of a silver bell.
Something out of heaven must have fell
You seem too perfect and divine to have originated from this world.
Oh let it ring
Let your beauty and influence amplify and resonate across the world.
The magic a magician gets to sing
The mystique and aura that surrounds you is akin to the enchanting performance of a magician.
Let me be your blue eyed harlequin
Allow me to be your loyal and devoted follower, willing to make you happy at all times.
You're my song
You are the melody that I always hum, the tune that I never forget.
You're on and on
You persist in my thoughts and emotions, never-ending and always present.
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aristides Cordeiro
You're like a song
A song dat come and go
Beneath the chord
A melody that seems to linger on
You're on and on
A movie queen
The sequin goddess of the movie screen
Picture of a picture that I've seen
You're on and on
You're my song
Her clown can cry
His tears will fill our eyes
The memories that you've seen
Were made of velvetine
Your yesterdays have gone
But yesterdays live on
You're on and on
A magic spell
A shooting star
That sound like a silver bell
Something out of heaven must have fell
You're on and on
Oh let it ring
The magic a magician gets to sing
Let me be your blue eyed harlequin
You're on and on
You're on and on
You're my song
You're on and on
You're my song
JC Johnsong
On and On (Lyrics)
You’re like a song
A song that comes and goes
Then it’s gone
A melody that seems to linger on
You’re on and on
A movie queen
A sequined goddess of the moving screen
Picture of a picture that I’ve seen
You’re on and on, you’re my song
Her clown can cry
His tears will fill our eyes
The memories that you’ve seen
Were made of velveteen
Your yesterdays have gone
But yesterdays live on
You’re on and on
A magic spell
A shooting star that sounds like a sliver bell
Something out of Heaven must have fell
You’re on and on
Oh, let it ring
The magical magician gets to sing
Let me be your blue-eyed harlequin
You’re on and on
You’re on and on
You’re my song
You’re on and on
You’re my song
bob kelunick
havent heard this song since the 70s, was on flipside of the rock on 45
A. T. Lockhart
That's what brought me here! I haven't heard this song since laying on the floor with the record player as a kid, watching that record spin round and round... the best of times. :-)
K B
One if the best45s in the world!
If not , thee!
In my book!
K B
Fuckin right! Awesome 45er! Totes mcgoats!
Ken Belmont
I use to have that 45!
Caroline Godden
Bravo!!! ACE ... HOLY CAT
8.31 pm
Caroline Godden
Only 8,800 views to date ... GOSH ... MY FIRST TIME LISTENING ALSO..8.29 pm
Melbourne Victoria Australia STRAYA Southern HEMISPHERE Southern Cross Cosmic HOLY SACRED Church CATMAN 8.29 pm