Don't Give Up On Us by David Soul

Album: Don't Give Up On Us (1976)

Charted: 1 1

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Songfacts®:

This was written by Tony Macaulay, who co-wrote 4 other UK #1s: "Baby Now That I've Found You" for the Foundations, "Let The Heartaches Begin" for Long John Baldry, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" for Edison Lighthouse and "Silver Lady" for David Soul.
David Soul played Hutch (the blonde) on the TV cop show Starsky & Hutch. Soul was a singer before he became an actor, and recorded folk and pop singles in the early '70s without any success. In desperation he sent a photograph of himself to the top New York entertainment agency William Morris. His ploy of disguising his face with a ski mask caught their imagination and he was immediately contracted to become the Covered Man, the resident singer on the Merv Griffin TV show. After completing the first series of Starsky & Hutch, Soul released an album before teaming up with Tony Macaulay and recording this, which became his first hit single. In the US this remained his only chart entry but in the UK he achieved four more Top 20 singles including another #1 with "Silver Lady" and a #2 with "Going In With My Eyes Wide Open."
Soul: (from 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh): "I made an album in San Francisco for Private Stock but there was nothing suitable for a single. The company told me that Tony Macaulay had some good tunes and he came over and played me Don't Give Up On Us and Going In With My Eyes Wide Open. Within 10 days, I had leant the songs and recorded them and Tony had mixed them and taken them back to England. They bazoomed to the top and they are 2 songs which have stood the test of time."
In the UK, this was the top single of 1977. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above

Comments: 14

Ditzygypsy from Bc, Canada It’s “we catch angels”. I’ve seen the sheet music. So stop guessing wrong! David Soul didn’t write this song, but in the context of him singing it, the best take on it is him asking his then-wife (either Karen Carlson, who was on a season 2 episode of Starsky and Hutch called “Gillian”, or the weird girlfriend Lynne Marta or the wife he married after those 2 relationships) not to leave him because he was drunk and abusive. He has been in recovery for many years now, but he was a terribly belligerent and abusive alcoholic during the Starsky and Hutch years. The song makes perfect sense. Some of these comments are ridiculous as to the meaning of the song. Infertility?! Really?
Tamborambo from Arizona I always thought the lyrics said “It’s written in the moonlight and painted on the stars...we can’t change ours”. Meaning: we’re destined to be together. Please don’t “make the wrong seem right” (breaking up).
Jo from Washington StateJust listened to “Don’t Give Up On Us” Dec.21, 2020. Married 55 years. We shed a tear!
Dean from PhilippinesOn my own opinion, the song is all about the parenting of two lovers as husband and wife. In which they are try on try to have a baby. There's a called "infertility" issue out there, what you think? Because that was in my own imagination everytime I'm listening on it.
Randy from Clemson ScI always liked this song, but really, the lyrics make no sense. He's done something awful (cheated, beaten, drunken rampage?) to his lady friend and he's trying to make her to blame ("don't make the wrong seem right"). The wrong is whatever he did, but she's probably trying to end the relationship which he interprets as "the wrong." Not out of place for it's time, but not at all enlightened. And if you watch the lip-sync video, he does not say "You've got a right to STOP believing." At the very least, he says "stah". :) So that line "You've got a right to start believing" is kinda stupid. If he'd said "disbelieving," that would work. Anyway, the lyrics have always been puzzling, but the song is still nostalgic and I did like it enough to own the 45 back in the day.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 30th 1975, the ABC-TV network aired a pilot titled 'Starsky and Hutch', due to good ratings the police series started a four-season run in September 1975...
Two years later David Soul, who played Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson on the series, entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart on January 23rd, 1977 at position #74 with "Don't Give Up On Us"; eleven weeks later it would peak at #1 {for 1 week} and it spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
The song proved to be a world-wide smash; it also peaked at #1 in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand...
'Hutch' had two more Top 100 records; "Going In With My Eyes Open" {#54} and "Silver Lady" {#52}, all three records charted in 1977...
Mr. Soul, born David Richard Solberg, will celebrate his 74th birthday this coming August 28th {2017}.
Tony from San DiegoTo Michael Scott : Love this song but I agree with u. A lot of the lyrics DON'T make sense. Always wondered if anyone else felt that way too or if I was crazy.
Lynn from Greensboro, NcThe song "Going In With My Eyes Wide Open" is a reminder song for me, so IF and when I get in another relationship. My mind and heart will be on guard. I was blind with the ones I thought would be meaningful relationships, I just got treated like a doormat and plaything. I didn't deserve that kind of treatment either. If it is GOD'S WILL, HE WILL send the right one.
Lynn from Greensboro, NcTo Michael S., "I nearly lost my head last night" basically saying there another side of his emotions.
Mr. Soul's songs are done with deepness, joyfulness and romantic tones.
Michael Scott from Punta Gorda, FlI nearly lost my head last night. Why woulg that be a reason to start believing. It wouldn't.
Michael Scott from Punta Gorda, FlThe first verse also sounded like" don't make the morn(ing) seem right.
This was such a beautiful song. A cop singing to a beautiful woman (girl friend) in a bar off duty, great voice and story.
Michael Scott from Punta Gorda, FlI saw 4 errors and Its we can't change "ours". 1) moonlight "and" painted on the stars; 2) I know we could 've (b)last one by; 3) you've got a right to "stop" believing. 4) "an" angel and a dreamer. Don't know what was written originally, but the song as sung by David Soul sounded like that to me.
Mary from Phoenix, AzI think the lyrics on "view the lyrics" are wrong.

I don't think it's "and painted on the stars we catch ANGELS"

I believe it is "and painted on the stars we catch IN JARS".
Shaun from Luton, Englandi loved this song it still stands the test of time.