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
It Goes On
Balaam and the Angel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The schools are empty and they're on their own
Teenage libido they've got it made
A touch of make-up an d they make the grade
You know it is no secret
Even though you don't believe it
It goes on
Down in the basement the wild child queens
Caught in the limelight sex for fame
Innocence is traded for the lines they gain
You know it is no secret
Even though you don't believe it
It goes on
The lyrics to "It Goes On" by Balaam and the Angel paint a picture of how society often embraces and even celebrates reckless youthfulness and the sexualization of young people. The first verse talks about how teenagers are left to their own devices, as schools are empty, and they are given the freedom to indulge in their wild sexual desires. The heavy-duty pleasure zone refers to the intense rush that comes with sexual activity. They easily gain the approval of their peers with a touch of makeup.
The second verse introduces a new group of individuals, the "wild child queens" and "Soho monarchs." These people trade their innocence for fame, seeking attention in the limelight through sexual acts. The line "Innocence is traded for the lines they gain" suggests that these individuals make a deal with the devil, willing to give up their moral compass for a shot at stardom. Despite the sad reality, the final line of each verse reminds us that this behavior continues, regardless of whether or not we believe it.
Line by Line Meaning
Heavy duty pleasure zone
A place where people indulge in intense pleasure
The schools are empty and they're on their own
Young people are left to their own devices and unsupervised
Teenage libido they've got it made
Young people have a strong sexual desire and seem to have plenty of opportunities to express it
A touch of make-up and they make the grade
Young women can attain success and popularity by simply enhancing their appearance with cosmetics
You know it is no secret
This is a well-known fact
Even though you don't believe it
Some people may be in denial about this fact
It goes on
This behavior and lifestyle continues without end
Down in the basement the wild child queens
Young women who act rebelliously and defiantly can become leaders in certain underground subcultures
Soho monarchs to a manhood dream
The people who are successful and powerful in certain areas of society are often those who cater to male fantasies and desires
Caught in the limelight sex for fame
Young women may feel pressure to engage in sexual activities in order to gain fame and success
Innocence is traded for the lines they gain
Young women sacrifice their innocence and purity in order to achieve their goals
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DUNCAN KILBURN, JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD BUTLER, ROGER NICHOLAS MORRIS, TIMOTHY BUTLER, VINCENT DAVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind