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

Charted: 1 1

License This Song 

• Don't give up on us, baby
  Don't make the wrong seem right
  The future isn't just one night
  It's written in the moonlight
  Painted on the stars
  We can't change ours
  
  Don't give up on us, baby
  We're still worth one more try
  I know we put a last one by
  Just for a rainy evening
  When maybe stars are few
  Don't give up on us, I know
  We can still come through
  
  I really lost my head last night
  You've got a right to start believin'
  There's still a little love left, even so
  
  Don't give up on us, baby
  Lord knows we've come this far
  Can't we stay the way we are?
  The angel and the dreamer
  Who sometimes plays a fool
  Don't give up on us, I know
  We can still come through
  
  It's written in the moonlight
  and painted on the stars
  We can't change ours
  
  Don't give up on us, baby
  We're still worth one more try
  I know we put a last one by
  Just for a rainy evening
  When maybe stars are few
  Don't give up on us, I know
  We can still come through
  
  Don't give up on us, baby
  Don't give up on us, baby Writer/s: TONY MACAULAY
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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.

More Songfacts:

Take Me HomePhil Collins

Phil Collins' "Take Me Home" is about a patient in a mental institution and was inspired by the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Station to StationDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Station to Station" is over 10 minutes long. Bowie was doing a lot of drugs at the time and later said, "I have only flashes of making it."

RosannaToto

"Rosanna" by Toto got its name from the actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro.

Raspberry BeretPrince

The UK band The Lightning Seeds of "Pure" fame got their name from a misheard line in Prince's "Raspberry Beret," mistaking "thunder drowns out what the lightning sees" for "thunder drowns out the lightning seeds."

E.T.Katy Perry

Katy Perry's song "E.T." came from a beat originally intended for the rap group Three Six Mafia. When her producer accidentally pulled up the beat, Perry asked to use it.

ForeverChris Brown

"Forever" by Chris Brown was written for a Wrigley's Doublemint Gum commercial. The full song contains the gum's tagline: "Double your pleasure, double your fun."

Editor's Picks

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.