Originally David Richard Solberg, he was born the son of a Lutheran minister. His father, Dr. Richard Solberg, was a senior representative for Lutheran World Relief during the reconstruction of Germany after World War II, and the family moved frequently while Soul was growing up. Soul's brother is a Lutheran minister and social activist.
Soul first gained attention as the mysterious "Covered Man" on several appearances on The Merv Griffin Show in 1967 in which he sang while wearing a ski mask and explained, "My name is David Soul, and I want to be known for my music".
Soul then appeared as level-headed Joshua Bolt on the television program Here Come the Brides, and later Arthur Hill's law partner on, "Owen Marshal: Counselor At Law". Superstar status came when he portrayed Detective Hutchinson on Starsky and Hutch. He has also made guest appearances on shows such as I Dream of Jeannie, McMillan and Wife, Cannon, Gunsmoke, World War III (miniseries), Star Trek, and The Streets of San Francisco. His best known film appearance was opposite Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force (1973). Soul also appeared in the mini-series based on Stephen King's horror classic "Salem's Lot" (1978).
After a successful singing career, including hits such as "Don't Give Up on Us" and "Silver Lady", Soul fell into relative obscurity during the 1980s, fought a long battle with alcoholism, although frequently made guest appearances in various US television series, with the occasional small film role.
In the 1990s, Soul moved to London, and forged a new career on the West End stage. He also notably participated in the successful 1997 election campaign of Martin Bell. In September 2004, he became a British citizen, but has kept his US citizenship and ties with the US. He is a big fan of English football (soccer) and is an Arsenal supporter. He has been married four times, three of those marriages have been to actresses: Karen Carlson, Patty Sherman, and Julia Nickson-Soul. He has six children: five sons and one daughter. His brother, Daniel Solberg, is pastor of St. Paulus Lutheran Church in San Francisco, California.
On July 12, 2004, he took over playing the role of Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Cambridge Theatre in London, televised by the BBC in 2005. He returned to the West End in 2006, playing Mack in a new production of Jerry Herman's musical Mack and Mabel at the Criterion Theatre. The production co-starred Janie Dee and was directed by John Doyle. He also appeared in the TV series Dalziel & Pascoe (Game of Soldiers). He had a brief cameo in the 2004 movie version of Starsky & Hutch, alongside original co-star Paul Michael Glaser.
In August 2008, Soul appeared in the reality TV talent show-themed television series Maestro on BBC Two mentored by Natalia Luis-Bassa.
He appeared with Fred Ward and Willem Dafoe in the film Farewell directed by Christian Carion, which received its U.S. release in 2010.
In June 2012, Soul made a one-week appearance with Jerry Hall at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, in a reprise of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play by A. R. Gurney, Love Letters. On July 29, 2012, he appeared in an episode of the British television detective drama series Lewis, playing a murder victim. He was also featured in the hit album by Fosseytango, singing on the track "Landlord". In 2013, Soul appeared in a cameo role in the Scottish film Filth lip-syncing his own recording of "Silver Lady". In 2014, Soul appeared in a British television commercial for National Express singing "Silver Lady" while driving a coach.
Soul died on January 4, 2024, at the age of 80.
Black Bean Soup
David Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you to make it with me
Honey won't you
Be my love while love will stay
And wear your ribbons for me
Boil those black beans, honey
Mash them up real well
Just a handful of sorrel, well
Cut up your chilly pepper
Squeeze that garlic smell
One mouthful of drippings
A granddaddy onion and well, well, well
All I want is black bean soup
And you to make it with me
Honey won't you
Be my love while love will stay
And wear your ribbons for me
Well I've been kicked in the head a few times
But that just made me high
I believe in the good things now
You know black bean soup don't lie, lie, lie....
All I want is black bean soup
And you to make it with me
Honey won't you
Be my love while love will stay
And wear your ribbons for me
David Soul's song "Black Bean Soup" is a simple, yet profound love song. The song speaks of the singer’s desire to have a warm, comforting meal together with his partner. The black bean soup in the lyrics represents a shared experience, a meal that they will make together while staying in love. The song seems to suggest that simple things like cooking together and sharing meals can strengthen the bond of a relationship. The singer also asks his partner to wear "ribbons" for him, which could symbolize the little things in a relationship that make it special, like doing small gestures for each other.
The lyrics of the song are simple and easy to relate to. They speak to the human desire for connection, love, and warmth. The song's message is both universal and timeless, depicting the importance of shared experiences, affection, and gestures of love in a relationship. The song's chorus, "All I want is black bean soup and you to make it with me," is a simple yet powerful statement, representing the singer's priorities in this relationship—love, companionship, and shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want is black bean soup
The only thing the singer desires at the moment is a bowl of black bean soup.
And you to make it with me
The singer wants someone to cook the soup with him/her.
Honey won't you
The singer is addressing someone he/she cares about, probably a lover or significant other.
Be my love while love will stay
The artist wants his/her lover to stay with them as long as love lasts. This might suggest the relationship is new or shaky.
And wear your ribbons for me
The artist wants his/her love interest to dress up for the occasion or to show off.
Boil those black beans, honey
The singer is giving instructions for the soup recipe and affectionately calls the person 'honey.'
Mash them up real well
The singer wants the black beans to become a puree-like texture in the soup.
One big soft tomato
The recipe calls for one large and ripe tomato to be included in the soup.
Just a handful of sorrel, well
The recipe only requires a small amount of sorrel, a leafy green herb used to add a tangy flavor to the soup.
Cut up your chilly pepper
The artist wants the person to chop up some chili pepper to add to the soup.
Squeeze that garlic smell
The recipe requires the person to add some garlic to the soup, an ingredient known for its strong aroma and flavor.
One mouthful of drippings
The recipe calls for using the liquid or drippings collected from cooking the black beans.
A granddaddy onion and well, well, well
The recipe requires a large onion and the repetition of 'well' might suggest that the singer is enjoying the recipe or is excited about cooking the soup.
Well I've been kicked in the head a few times
The singer reflects on past hardships or failures, implying he/she has overcome them.
But that just made me high
The struggles have led the singer to feel elevated or enlightened rather than discouraged.
I believe in the good things now
The artist is optimistic and has faith in positive outcomes, probably due to past experiences.
You know black bean soup don't lie, lie, lie....
The artist associates the truthfulness of black bean soup with how they feel about a certain situation or person. It might suggest that they express themselves better through cooking or food.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.