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.
Playing to an Audience of one
David Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still I've lived a few
Oh I'm not a star
Though in some ways I've made it
But all these nights away is gonna lose me you
I've thought a lot about it in these backs stage rooms
And I'd leave it all, if you want me too.
Some nights, God knows I'll miss the music
I'll miss the crowds that call my name
I'd find contentment now
If I thought you'd just hang' on
Playing to an audience of one
Some nights, God knows it won't be easy
I'll feel the lights I'll hear the sound
I'll find a piece in me
Cuddled up when the evening's done
Sometimes playing to my audience of one
The endless driving, midnight arriving
The sleeping when you can
Still worth it somehow just for that lift
You get when you walk on
But just to call you up some nights between the shows
To say "Good-night I miss you" ain't enough I know
So I'd leave it all if you tell me so
I'll find a piece in me
Cuddled up when the evening's done
Playing to my audience of one
Sometimes playing to my audience of one.
The lyrics of the song “Playing to an Audience of One,” by David Soul, are a poignant reflection on the sacrifices that come with a life dedicated to entertainment. The artist is caught between two worlds - his love for music and his love for a person. In the opening lines, he acknowledges the blurred lines between reality and dreams; he has realized many dreams and achieved some success but cannot help but wonder if he is missing out on something essential. He admits that he is not a “star,” but his job has taken him away from someone special, making him question the value of his career over love.
The song’s chorus is powerful, a plea for acceptance and understanding, explaining that there are times when he misses his audience, but ultimately, he wants only to communicate and connect with the one person he loves. The lyrics reveal an intimate portrait of an artist torn between his passion for music and his passion for another - he speculates if his desire for music is worth the cost of losing someone he loves. Through the songwriter’s words, we feel the artist’s anguish over whether to sacrifice his dreams and stay true to his heart’s calling or his heart and leave it all behind.
Line by Line Meaning
They say maybe dreams are only movies of the mind
People often say that dreams are just figments of our imagination
Still I've lived a few
However, I have experienced a few that felt real
Oh I'm not a star
I want to clarify that I am not a celebrity
Though in some ways I've made it
But in my own way, I have achieved some level of success
But all these nights away is gonna lose me you
Although I have to spend many nights away from home, I am afraid of losing you
I've thought a lot about it in these backs stage rooms
I often contemplate my relationship while sitting alone in backstage rooms
And I'd leave it all, if you want me too.
If you want me to prioritize our relationship over my career, I am willing to give up everything
Some nights, God knows I'll miss the music
Sometimes, I know I will miss performing and the joy of entertaining people
I'll miss the crowds that call my name
I will also miss the excitement of hearing people cheering and shouting my name
I'd find contentment now
But nowadays, I can find happiness and fulfillment
If I thought you'd just hang' on
If only I believed that you will stay with me forever
Playing to an audience of one
Then I wouldn't mind playing to an audience of just you
Some nights, God knows it won't be easy
There will be nights when it will be difficult
I'll feel the lights I'll hear the sound
I will feel the pressure of the performance and be surrounded by music
I'll find a piece in me
But after the end of the day, I can find solace within myself
Cuddled up when the evening's done
I can find comfort in being alone and reflecting on myself
Sometimes playing to my audience of one
Which is why sometimes, I only play and sing for myself
The endless driving, midnight arriving
Traveling for work can be exhausting, especially arriving late at night
The sleeping when you can
I can only sleep during the few hours before the next performance
Still worth it somehow just for that lift
But despite its difficulty, it is still worth it because of the rush of performing
You get when you walk on
Which is indescribable and experienced only once I step on stage
But just to call you up some nights between the shows
However, I know it is not enough to only call you on some nights
To say "Good-night I miss you" ain't enough I know
Words are not enough to express how much I miss you
So I'd leave it all if you tell me so
If you ask me to give up my career for you, I'm willing to do so
Contributed by Elliot L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.