David Soul (born August 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor… Read Full Bio ↴David Soul (born August 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor and British citizen and singer best known for his role as the "seat-of-the-pants" California police detective Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson (opposite co-star and long-time friend Paul Michael Glaser) in the cult television program Starsky and Hutch (1975-79).

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.

Don’t Give Up On Us
David Soul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't give up on us, baby
Don't make the wrong seem right
The future isn't just one night
It's written in the moonlight
Painted on the stars
We can't change ours

Don't give up on us, baby

We're still worth one more try
I know we put a last one by
Just for a rainy evening
When maybe stars are few
Don't give up on us, I know
We can still come through

I really lost my head last night
You've got a right to start believin'
There's still a little love left, even so

Don't give up on us, baby
Lord knows we've come this far
Can't we stay the way we are?
The angel and the dreamer
Who sometimes plays a fool
Don't give up on us, I know
We can still come through

It's written in the moonlight
Painted on the stars
We can't change ours

Don't give up on us, baby
We're still worth one more try
I know we put a last one by
Just for a rainy evening
When maybe stars are few
Don't give up on us, I know
We can still come through

Don't give up on us, baby
Don't give up on us, baby

Overall Meaning

In David Soul's song "Don't Give Up on Us," the singer pleads with his partner not to lose faith in their relationship despite its struggles. He acknowledges that they may have made mistakes and that the future is uncertain, but he believes that they are still capable of making things work. The song's romantic lyrics appeal to the idea that true love endures through difficult times, and the singer's soulful delivery conveys the depth of his emotions.

Soul employs vivid imagery to express his sentiments, invoking the moon and stars to symbolize the enduring nature of their love. He believes that their bond is written in the very fabric of the universe, and that they cannot change their destiny. This is contrasted with the acknowledgement that they have made mistakes in the past, and that they have hurt each other. Despite this, Soul believes that they are still worth one more try and that they can still come through. He acknowledges that at times he may act foolishly, but ultimately he is the dreamer who wants to make their love a reality.

The song's enduring popularity speaks to its timeless appeal. Its message of perseverance through difficult times has resonated with generations of listeners, and its soulful delivery and stirring melody have become iconic. The song's popularity led to it being covered by numerous artists, including Barry Manilow and Engelbert Humperdinck. Decades after its release, "Don't Give Up on Us" remains a classic of the romantic ballad genre.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't give up on us, baby
Please don't lose faith in us, my love

Don't make the wrong seem right
Let's not try to justify our mistakes

The future isn't just one night
Our love isn't just temporary

It's written in the moonlight
Our love is destined to be

Painted on the stars
Our love is a masterpiece

We can't change ours
Our love can't be altered

We're still worth one more try
We're still deserving of one more chance

I know we put a last one by
I know we messed up before

Just for a rainy evening
Just for a moment of sadness

When maybe stars are few
When there seems to be little hope left

Don't give up on us, I know
I believe we can still make it