Jack O'Connell (born 1 August 1989) is a British actor who lives in Alvasto… Read Full Bio ↴Jack O'Connell (born 1 August 1989) is a British actor who lives in Alvaston, Derby, England. He is best known for playing Pukey Nicholls in This Is England, and as James Cook in the E4 teen drama series Skins. He has also made appearances in Doctors, Waterloo Road, The Bill, and Holby City.

In 2006, O'Connell made his film debut in British drama This is England, a story about a boy growing up in 1980s England. Shane Meadows, director and writer, wrote the character Pukey Nicholls into the film specifically for O'Connell, because he was slightly too old to take the main part. The production later won the British Academy Film Award for Best British Film. Following this, he played the lead role of 14-year-old Chris in the short film Black Dog, directed by Ian Fenton.
In 2007, O'Connell starred in Scarborough, a new play at the Edinburgh Festival and reprised his role the following year when it transferred to the Royal Court Theatre, London. He played the part of Daz, a 15-year-old schoolboy in a sexual relationship with his teacher. He also appeared as Dale Baxter in Waterloo Road, a 14 year old truent school boy who later found out he had Overactive Bladder Syndrome. Later in 2007, he appeared in an episode of ITV television series Wire in the Blood, "The Names of Angels" , and an episode of British medical drama Holby City, "Trust". In October 2007, O'Connell starred in an educational DVD, Between You and Me, produced by Derbyshire Constabulary, in which his character Alfie Gilchrist encounters a range of issues including underage drinking, fake ID, peer pressure, and car theft. Youth Work Now magazine described his performance as "outstanding".
More recently, O'Connell appeared in the 2008 horror film Eden Lake. His character, Brett, is the leader of a gang of teenagers who is provoked into a violent confrontation with the main characters. In July, the Daily Mirror reported that O'Connell was set to star alongside Kaya Scodelario in series 3 of teen dramedy Skins.

Ace of Spades
Jack O'Connell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Cook:)
If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
You win some, lose some, it's - all - the same to me

wawawawa wawawawa wawawawa

The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say

wawawawa wawawa

I don't share your greed, the only card I need is

The Ace Of Spades
The Ace Of Spades

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of Jack O'Connell's song Ace of Spades speak directly to the game of gambling. Cook, the singer, introduces himself as a skilled gambler who is ready to play. He goes on to explain that the outcome of the game doesn't phase him - he is undeterred by the potential for winning or losing. The pleasure he seeks comes from the act of playing rather than the prospect of winning.

In the next few lines, Cook goes on to establish his personal ethos: that he is not a greedy man. He doesn't need a hand full of cards to play the game, he only needs the Ace of Spades. Perhaps a reference to the power of the card, often considered a high ranking or trump card. This philosophy reflects the song's larger themes of rebellion and living life on one's own terms, rejecting the status quo and embracing individual freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man
I am the man for you if you enjoy taking risks and playing games of chance.

You win some, lose some, it's - all - the same to me
I am indifferent to whether you win or lose since it is just part of the game.

The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say
Playing the game itself is the ultimate joy, and your opinions or words are irrelevant.

I don't share your greed, the only card I need is
Unlike you, I am not driven by excessive desire for winning, and all I need to win is

The Ace Of Spades
The most valuable card in the deck.

Contributed by Mateo B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS