A 1977 Anthem of Quiet Strength That Still Speaks Today
By Great Songs
December 26, 2025
In the ever-shifting world of 1970s British pop, few artists managed to navigate fame, reinvention, and public expectation quite like David Essex. By the time he released On and On in 1977, Essex was no longer the fresh-faced sensation who had burst onto the scene with glam-infused swagger. He was something more complex — an artist standing at a crossroads, determined to endure.
When On and On climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, it did more than secure another Top 10 hit. It sent a message. David Essex wasn’t fading into the background of a rapidly changing music landscape. He was evolving — and more importantly, he was staying powerfully present.
A Defining Moment in 1977
The year 1977 was a turbulent one for popular music in the UK. Punk rock was rising with explosive force, disco beats were ruling dance floors, and the era of glam was beginning to feel like a memory. For an artist who had once embodied the flash and fervor of early-’70s stardom, survival meant adaptation.
On and On appeared on his album Ooh La La, a project that revealed a more introspective and grounded Essex. Gone was the pure glitter spectacle of earlier days. In its place stood a performer who had lived through meteoric success and the pressures that inevitably follow.
To understand the weight of this moment, one must look back at Essex’s earlier triumphs. His breakthrough single Rock On established him as a distinctive voice in British pop — minimal, edgy, and unforgettable. Then came the chart-topping success of Hold Me Close, cementing his mainstream appeal. But as with all sudden fame, the applause raised an unavoidable question: how long could it last?
On and On feels like Essex answering that question in real time.
The Sound of Persistence
From its opening notes, On and On carries a steady, deliberate rhythm — almost like footsteps moving forward. It is not frantic. It does not beg for attention. Instead, it builds quietly, layering melody over determination.
Lyrically, the song is deceptively simple. Yet within that simplicity lies its emotional resonance. The repetition of the title phrase becomes more than a hook; it becomes a mantra. It suggests resilience not as a grand declaration, but as a daily decision.
Unlike many anthems of perseverance that rely on explosive choruses or dramatic crescendos, Essex chooses restraint. His delivery is measured and warm. There is a slight weathered quality in his voice — not from age alone, but from experience. He sounds like someone who understands what it means to keep going even when certainty disappears.
And that is precisely why the song has endured.
A Reflection of Fame’s Reality
Behind the melody lies a deeper narrative — one about fame’s fleeting nature. By the late 1970s, yesterday’s idols were being replaced at a dizzying speed. Public taste shifted rapidly. The industry was unforgiving.
Rather than chasing trends or competing with louder movements, Essex anchored himself in sincerity. On and On does not attempt to sound punk or disco-driven. It does not fight for relevance through spectacle. Instead, it embraces authenticity.
This decision was risky. But it paid off.
By grounding himself in honest songwriting, Essex demonstrated artistic maturity. He acknowledged the uncertainty of the moment without succumbing to it. The song does not pretend that the road is easy. It simply insists that the road continues.
That message resonated deeply with listeners — especially those who had grown alongside him.
Growing With the Audience
One of the most remarkable aspects of On and On is how differently it feels depending on when you hear it.
To younger listeners in 1977, it may have sounded like encouragement — a push to chase dreams and remain steadfast. To older audiences, it carried recognition: the understanding that life rarely offers clean victories. Instead, it demands endurance.
Over time, the song’s meaning deepens. What once seemed motivational gradually becomes reflective. It speaks not only of career persistence but of love tested by years, of personal setbacks quietly overcome, of responsibilities carried without applause.
This layered universality is what separates a hit from a lasting song.
The Album Context: Ooh La La
Within the broader landscape of Ooh La La, On and On stands as the emotional anchor. The album as a whole reveals an artist transitioning from youthful idol to seasoned storyteller.
There is a sense of recalibration throughout the record — as if Essex were reintroducing himself not as a fleeting sensation but as a craftsman. The production choices lean toward warmth rather than flamboyance. The songwriting favors substance over flash.
In this context, On and On becomes more than a single. It becomes a thesis statement.
It says: I am still here. And I am not finished.
Why It Still Matters
Nearly five decades later, On and On retains its quiet power. It does not rely on era-specific production gimmicks. It does not belong to a single movement. Its heartbeat — persistence — is timeless.
In today’s culture of instant fame and viral cycles, the song’s message feels almost prophetic. Success comes quickly. So does dismissal. The challenge is not rising — it is remaining.
David Essex understood that in 1977.
He chose steadiness over spectacle. Reflection over reaction. Longevity over noise.
That choice defines the legacy of On and On.
An Artist Who Outlasted the Moment
In the broader arc of David Essex’s career, this song represents a bridge — between explosive early stardom and the enduring respect that followed. It is neither the rebellious spark of his beginnings nor the retrospective glow of later years. It is the moment in between — when experience begins shaping wisdom.
There is something profoundly human about that stage. It is where illusions fall away. Where applause fades into background noise. Where the real work begins.
And that is exactly what On and On captures.
Not triumph.
Not defeat.
But continuation.
Final Thoughts
Some songs demand to be remembered with dramatic flair. Others simply remain — quietly echoing through different seasons of life.
On and On belongs to the latter.
It does not shout for attention, yet it lingers. It does not promise easy victories, yet it offers something more valuable: companionship on the road forward.
In 1977, amid musical revolutions and shifting tides, David Essex made a choice. He chose persistence. He chose authenticity. He chose to move forward — on and on.
And in doing so, he created a song that continues to walk beside us, step by steady step.