Both Seals and Crofts were born in Texas. They first met when Crofts was a drummer for a local band. Later, Seals joined a band called Dean Beard and the Crew Cuts where he played guitar; later on Crofts joined the band. With Beard, they moved to Los Angeles to join The Champs. In 1958, Seals and Crofts toured with The Champs. After the success of their number one Latin rock instrumental hit "Tequila", the pair returned to Los Angeles to work as session musicians.
In 1962, Jimmy Seals, Dash Crofts, Glen Campbell, and Jerry Cole left The Champs to form a band named "Glen Campbell and the GCs" which played at The Crossbow in Van Nuys, CA. The band only lasted a couple of years before the members went their separate ways. Crofts returned to Texas and Seals joined a band named "The Dawnbreakers" (a reference to a book by the same name). Crofts eventually returned to California to join The Dawnbreakers. However, The Dawnbreakers turned out to be unsuccessful. Crofts married fellow Dawnbreaker Billie Lee Day in 1969, and both Seals and Crofts were introduced and converted to the Bahá'í Faith.
After the failure with The Dawnbreakers, the two decided to play as a duo, with Seals on guitar, saxophone and violin, and Crofts on guitar and mandolin. They signed a contract with Talent Associates and released two LPs, which were largely ignored. The pair signed a new contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1971. Their first album with their new label was also unsuccessful, but their second album, Summer Breeze charted at #7 in 1972.
After a long and successful run of recordings in the 1970s, the two lost their contract with Warner Brothers and set aside music for a while. They held a short reunion tour in 1991–1992 and appeared at several Bahá'í gatherings. Crofts lived in Mexico, Australia and then Nashville, playing country music and making occasional hit singles. Seals moved to Costa Rica and has lived on a coffee farm since 1980.
In 2003, Seals and Crofts reunited and recorded a new album, "Traces", for the first time since 1998. They toured during 2004–2005.
In the early 2000s up to 2008, Seals embarked on various tours with his brother Dan ("England" Dan Seals, of England Dan & John Ford Coley), billing themselves as Seals & Seals.
In December 2010, the bandmates' daughters Juliet (Seals) Crossley and Amelia (Crofts) Dailey, along with Genevieve (Bogan) Dozier, daughter of Seals and Crofts engineer Joey Bogan, formed a musical trio called The Humming Birds. They released their self titled EP The Humming Birds in September 2012.
In 2018, Brady Seals (Jim's cousin) and Lua Crofts (Dash's daughter) began touring as Seals and Crofts 2, performing the catalog of Seals and Crofts, as well as some new music.
Castles In The Sand
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the albums I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975), GREATEST HITS (1975) and
THE SEALS & CROFTS COLLECTION (1979).
Every little thing you do makes me feel good.
And I could be your prince, babe, if I only would.
And I could take you places you think you'd like to go.
And I could show you secrets behind ev'ry closed door.
But it's only the castles in the sand. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Now every little thing you do makes me feel fine.
And I could be your daddy, if it's on your mind.
And I could buy you diamonds and all them fancy clothes.
And I could give you lovin' like nobody knows.
But it's only the castles in the sand, love. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Your eyes are dancing and saying to me in the sunlight, I want you so,
You are beautiful, a princess. But I'm like the sand when the wind blows.
It's only the castles in the sand. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, castles in the sand, castles in the sand.
See the castles in the sand.
In Seals & Crofts's song "Castles in the Sand," the singer contemplates the fleeting nature of love and relationships. He expresses his desire to be the object of his partner's affection and to fulfill all her wishes and desires, but he ultimately realizes that he can only offer her temporary pleasures and that he will never be her true love or "man." The metaphor of "castles in the sand" underscores the idea that such pleasures and experiences are transient and illusory, resembling the beautiful but impermanent structures created by the tides on the beach.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is aware of his limitations and accepts the fact that he cannot control or predict the course of love. He admires his partner's beauty and charm, but he understands that these qualities are not enough to sustain a meaningful and lasting connection. He compares himself to the sand that is blown away by the wind, emphasizing his vulnerability and insignificance. The repetition of "castles in the sand" in the chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is resigned to the fact that his feelings and efforts will not lead to a solid and enduring relationship.
Overall, Seals & Crofts's song "Castles in the Sand" is a poignant meditation on the paradoxical nature of love and the human longing for connection and meaning in a world that is full of uncertainties and impermanence. The lyrics and music evoke a wistful and melancholy mood, highlighting the emotional depth and insight of the songwriters.
Line by Line Meaning
Every little thing you do makes me feel good.
Your actions towards me give me positive emotions.
And I could be your prince, babe, if I only would.
I could be the romantic partner you want, if I chose to do so.
And I could take you places you think you'd like to go.
I have the ability to bring you to destinations you desire.
And I could show you secrets behind ev'ry closed door.
I possess knowledge of hidden information.
But it's only the castles in the sand. I'll never be your man.
Despite my potential, I will not fulfill the role of your romantic partner.
Now every little thing you do makes me feel fine.
Your actions still bring me positive emotions, but they are not enough for me to become your romantic partner.
And I could be your daddy, if it's on your mind.
I could fulfill the role of a parental figure for you, if that's what you desire.
And I could buy you diamonds and all them fancy clothes.
I have the resources to purchase luxurious items for you.
And I could give you lovin' like nobody knows.
I can provide you with love and intimacy, even if it's something that's not well-known or talked about.
Your eyes are dancing and saying to me in the sunlight, I want you so,
Your body language and facial expressions suggest that you desire my affection.
You are beautiful, a princess. But I'm like the sand when the wind blows.
While you are royalty in my eyes, I am constantly shifting and unable to be a stable partner.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand. Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Any potential relationship between us is as temporary and fleeting as a castle made of sand.
Castles in the sand, castles in the sand, castles in the sand. See the castles in the sand.
The repeated mention of 'castles in the sand' emphasizes the temporary nature of any relationship between us.
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.