The three founding members of the band are Scottish brothers; the Morris brothers (James Morris, Mark Morris and Des Morris). As children in Motherwell, they worked in the entertainment industry as part of a cabaret act. They moved south to England, to Cannock, Staffordshire, where they formed Balaam and the Angel.
1985 saw the band augment their line up with keyboard player ‘Wendy Harper’.
Initially, the band self-released a series of EPs via their own Chapter 22 label and played some tour dates opening for The Cult. This saw Balaam and the Angel catch the attention of Virgin Records who signed them and would release their debut "The Greatest Story Ever Told" in 1986. They toured in support of it in the United States with KISS and label mates Iggy Pop.
A second guitarist, and the first non sibling was added to the band in 1988; Ian McKean. The band began to move away from gothic rock music styles into a sound that had more in common with hard rock. With their new found style they recorded the album "Live Free or Die", which featured the minor rock (#13) and college radio (#18) hit "I Love the Things You Do to Me". This was soon followed up in similar style when they recorded "Days of Madness", before being dropped by Virgin Records. Their song "I'll Show You Something Special" is on the Steve Martin and John Candy movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" soundtrack.
At some point, the band were joined by Chris P Notes on Keyboards.
Albums
1985 Sun Family
1987 The Greatest Story Ever Told
1988 Live Free or Die
1989 Days of Madness
1991 No More Innocence
1993 Prime Time
2019 That's Not The Real World
www.balaamandtheangel.co.uk
I'll Show You Something Special
Balaam and the Angel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he beats you down yeah
He plays around and he spends your money
Heaven knows when that feeling goes
I'll show you something special
I'll take the sadness from your smile
I'm gonna show you something special
Take me before you break me up
It drives me crazy oh
Heaven knows I've been waiting
Waiting for you to come around
I'll take the sadness from your smile
I'm gonna show you something special
Heaven knows if you're gonna stop
I'll show you something special who yeah
I'll take the sadness from your smile
I'm gonna show you something special
Heaven knows I've been waiting
Waiting for you to come around
I'll take the sadness from your smile
I'm gonna show you something special
The lyrics of Balaam and the Angel's song "I'll Show You Something Special" reflect a sense of empowerment and renewal that comes from finding someone who truly understands and appreciates you. The singer acknowledges the pain and turmoil they have experienced in a relationship with someone who has mistreated and taken advantage of them. However, they have found hope in someone who is willing to show them something special, to take away the sadness and bring joy back into their life.
The lyrics speak to the idea of healing and moving on, taking back control of one's life after a difficult period. Rather than continuing to let someone else dictate their emotions and actions, the singer is ready to take charge and show the world what they're truly capable of. Lines like "Take me before you break me up" and "I'll show you something special who yeah" demonstrate a sense of strength and independence that comes from refusing to be a victim any longer.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'll Show You Something Special" are a powerful declaration of self-worth and resilience, and a reminder that true happiness comes from within. By finding someone who sees and appreciates them for who they truly are, the singer is able to break free from the pain of the past and embrace a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Well he takes you up
He lifts you up and gives you hope
And he beats you down yeah
But then brings you crashing down and hurts you
He plays around and he spends your money
He doesn't take your feelings seriously and wastes your resources
Heaven knows when that feeling goes
You feel lost when you lose that connection with him
I'll show you something special
But I have something unique to offer you
I'll take the sadness from your smile
I'll remove your pain and make you happy
I'm gonna show you something special
I will reveal something extraordinary to you
Take me before you break me up
Please love me before you hurt me beyond repair
I feel it growing
My affection for you is getting stronger
It drives me crazy oh
I am consumed by my love for you
Heaven knows I've been waiting
I've been waiting for you to notice me
Waiting for you to come around
To give me the chance to love and care for you
Heaven knows if you're gonna stop
But I don't know if you'll ever give me that chance
I'll show you something special who yeah
But if you do, I promise you'll experience something amazing
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DESMOND MORRIS, JAMES SAMUEL MORRIS, MARK JOSEPH MORRIS, STEVE BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@noisychamps
Paul Hirsch, ACE, who edited Planes, Trains and Automobiles said this about the scene with Doobie and his vehicle "Doobby's Taxiola":
"John Hughes (director) was rewriting scenes the night before and handing the dialogue to John Candy and Steve Martin and the scenes would get longer and longer. In the original script, the scene in the taxi when they drive to the first motel was about a third of a page. “Why didn’t we take the interstate?” The cabbie says, “Well, on the interstate all you see is the interstate.” Candy says, “This guy is proud of his community and wants to show it off.” Steve says, “But it’s night.” That was the whole scene. So we get the dailies and John (director, John Hughes) has written this whole dialogue for the cab driver: “See that over there? That’s where I lost my virginity when I was 18. See that tree over there that looks like a hanging tree? Well, there’s a funny story about that tree.” And it goes on and on."
"And then there was the coverage: there was a front shot of the cab, and you see the cab driver in the foreground and Steve and Candy in the back seat. So there’s a thousand feet of that. Maybe two takes, 2,000 feet. And then every take of every shot I’m describing to you was a thousand feet without stopping. So we had a front wide shot, then a front close up of the driver, then front close ups of Steve and Candy. They had a raking 2 shot of them one way an a raking 2 shot the other way. Then they had a tighter raking shot both ways. Then they had a close-up shot from the rear, of the cab driver turning around and looking into camera as if he was addressing them. And then there were details all of the decorations in the taxi. It was decorated like a Philippino taxi cab. So we had forty thousand feet of film for a scene that — in the script — was less than half a page. I had to hire another editor and just say, “This is yours. Go work on this.” In the end, the scene turned out to be exactly as originally written."
From Steve Hullfish interviews Paul Hirsch on ProVideoCoalition's website, 13 April 2019.
Further reading: “A Long Time Ago In A Cutting Room Far Far Away” by Paul Hirsch (Published by the Chicago Review Press, 2019)
PS Speaking of editing, there are two typos in the title of this video.
"Balaam And The Ange - Ill Show You Something Special"
@DoobiesTaxiola
I know, I know, but he's proud of his town. That's a damn rare thing these days.
@JOLEBLON62
But it's the middle of the night!
@richardcranium3579
Del Griffith!
@williamb.8059
John Candy. Tops!
@LeahElisheva
😂😂😂. There’s nothin on interstate but interstate ….
@user-kw5en9zr1r
Lol, awesome! 😂
@williamb.8059
Thank you John Hughes. Great guitar tone BTW!
@mdski98
taxi driver looks back, smirks and winks at Neil Paige
@DdgeShelby
Player One spelling Nazi on YouTube? Hahahaaaa. Sad.
@David-zw8ex
😉