Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
Show & Tell
Al Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till you came into my life
And these are the arms that long to lock you inside
Every day and every night
Girl, and here is the soul of which you've taken control
Can't you see I'm trying to show love is right
Oh, show and tell
Just a game I play, when I want to say
I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, baby
These are the hands that can't help reaching for you
If you're anywhere inside (anywhere inside)
And these are the lips that can't help calling your name
In the middle of the night (middle of the night)
Oh, and here is the man that needs to know where you stand
Don't you know I've done all I can, so decide
Oh, show and tell
It's just a game I play, when I want to say
I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, say you do
Baby, baby, baby
Here is the soul of which you've taken control
Can't you see I'm trying to show love is right
Ooh, girl
Show and tell
Just a game I play, when I want to say
Oh, I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, say you do, baby
Oh, show and tell
Just a game I play, when I want to say
Oh, I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
The lyrics to Al Wilson's song "Show and Tell" describe a man expressing his love to a woman, using his body as a way to demonstrate his affection. He sings about his eyes, which never knew how to smile until the woman entered his life, and his arms, which long to hold her. He also talks about his soul, which she has taken control of, and his hands and lips, which cannot help but reach for her and call out her name. In the bridge of the song, he pleads with her to show him and tell him that she feels the same way.
Overall, the lyrics represent a man's vulnerability and honesty in expressing his love for a woman. He is not afraid to show his emotions and desires, and he uses the metaphor of "show and tell" to let her know how he feels. The repetition of the phrase "show and tell" emphasizes the playfulness and sincerity of the man's intentions.
One notable aspect of the lyrics is the use of body parts to convey emotions. The eyes, arms, soul, hands, and lips all represent different aspects of the man's love for the woman. This use of metaphor adds depth and complexity to the song's message, making it more than just a simple love song.
Line by Line Meaning
These are the eyes that never knew how to smile
Till you came into my life
Before you, I did not know how to be happy, but now you have brought joy and happiness into my life
And these are the arms that long to lock you inside
Every day and every night
My arms ache to hold you close and keep you safe, every moment of every day
Girl, and here is the soul of which you've taken control
Can't you see I'm trying to show love is right
You have captured my heart and I willingly give it to you. I want to prove that love is the right choice and the best thing we can share
Oh, show and tell
Just a game I play, when I want to say
I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, baby
I play this game of 'show and tell' to express my love for you. I want you to reciprocate and tell me that you love me too
These are the hands that can't help reaching for you
If you're anywhere inside (anywhere inside)
My hands naturally move towards you, even when you are not near, as if they know where you are
And these are the lips that can't help calling your name
In the middle of the night (middle of the night)
My lips involuntarily murmur your name, especially when I am alone and missing you in the middle of the night
Oh, and here is the man that needs to know where you stand
Don't you know I've done all I can, so decide
I am a man who needs to know where I stand with you. I have done everything I can to show my love, so please tell me if you feel the same way
Ooh, girl
Show and tell
Just a game I play, when I want to say
Oh, I love you
Girl, so show me, and tell me
That you feel the same way too
I want to express my love for you, and I play this game of 'show and tell' to do so. I hope you will reciprocate and tell me that you love me too
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind