On and On — a song about resilience, persistence, and the quiet courage to keep moving forward
When “On and On” by David Essex first reached listeners in 1977, it felt less like a pop hit and more like a personal statement set to melody — a song about endurance, about carrying on when applause fades and doubts creep in. Released at a pivotal moment in Essex’s career, the song quickly resonated, climbing into the UK Top 10 and peaking at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. At the time, it confirmed something important: David Essex was no passing phenomenon. He was an artist learning how to outlast the moment.
The song appeared on his 1977 album Ooh La La, a record that reflected a more seasoned, thoughtful performer. By then, Essex was already well known — not only as a singer, but also as an actor and songwriter who had tasted early superstardom with “Rock On” and later massive success with “Hold Me Close”, a UK No. 1 hit. Yet with success came pressure, expectation, and the inevitable question faced by many artists: what comes next?
“On and On” feels like an answer to that question.
From the opening moments, the song carries a steady, almost marching rhythm — not rushed, not desperate, but determined. Lyrically, it speaks of persistence in the face of uncertainty, of choosing to move forward even when the path is unclear. There is no bravado here. Instead, Essex offers something far more honest: the quiet strength required to keep going when the easy victories are behind you.
This honesty is what gave the song its emotional weight, especially for listeners who had already lived a little. “On and on” is not about chasing dreams with youthful abandon; it’s about staying upright after dreams have tested you. It acknowledges weariness without surrendering to it. That balance — between fatigue and hope — is where the song lives.
David Essex’s vocal performance plays a crucial role. His voice, warm and slightly weathered even then, carries conviction without strain. He doesn’t oversell the message. He lets it unfold naturally, as if he’s speaking to someone across a quiet room rather than shouting to a crowd. That restraint makes the song timeless. Decades later, it still sounds like a companion rather than a command.
Behind the scenes, “On and On” also reflected Essex’s evolving relationship with fame. By the late 1970s, the pop landscape was shifting rapidly. Punk was rising, disco dominated dance floors, and yesterday’s idols were being pushed aside. Essex chose not to fight the tide with noise, but with sincerity. This song — and the album Ooh La La — showed an artist grounding himself, reaffirming his place by staying true to his voice.
For many listeners, the song became more meaningful with time. What once sounded like a motivational refrain gradually revealed deeper layers: perseverance in work, in love, in life itself. It’s the song you hear differently at different stages — first as encouragement, later as recognition.
That is the quiet brilliance of “On and On.” It doesn’t beg to be remembered, yet it stays. It understands that life rarely offers clean endings or triumphant finales. More often, it simply asks us to continue — step by step, day by day.
In the broader story of David Essex, this song stands as a marker of maturity. Not the explosive fame of the early years, nor the reflective distance of later retrospectives, but a moment in between — when experience had begun to shape wisdom. For those who listen now, it feels like an old friend reminding us that whatever we carry, however heavy the road feels, we move forward the only way we can.