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.
Earth
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me a castle in the sun where rainbows have ends and people are one
Show me an earth where the birth of a child disguised as the word can be recognized
Earth is my nation, my station, obligatory. But earth is my sorrow, my curses' depository
Give me a table beyond the clouds where there's enough food to feed all the crowds
Show me an earth where the birth of a child disguised as the word can be recognized
Let me hear my other voice who guides me now but gives me choice
Tell me where to find the friend should He pass this way again
Earth is my mother, no other, my sanctuary. But earth is my prison, my grave and my mortuary
Give me a castle in the sun where rainbows have ends and people are one
Show me an earth where the birth of a child disguised as the word can be recognized
The first two lines of each verse of Seals & Crofts's song "Earth" seem to contradict each other. The contradiction, however, presents a stark reality of how humanity sees the planet as both a mother figure that nurtures and provides shelter and a place of endless suffering and death. The repeated phrase "Give me a castle in the sun" could mean anything from an ideal existence to an unreachable utopia. Still, what's clear is that the song is a plea to see the world differently, to recognize its true form, and to long for its salvation.
In the third and fourth lines, the writer seems to be calling for a return to simplicity and oneness, an earth where the birth of a child is valued and manifested as the word. The fifth and sixth lines talk of the earth as a nation, one that we have an obligation to maintain, but also a place of sorrow and where our curses or woes are kept. The writer here reminds us of our responsibility as citizens of the planet and suggests that our bad deeds, sins, or mistakes are stored within its borders.
The last two lines of the song talk about a voice that guides the singer and gives them choices. They ask where to find a friend who will help them along the way and implore listeners to remember Akka, who seems to be a spiritual guide of some sort who warns of the danger of the earth's seemingly wholesome beauty. Overall, the song is a prayer for peace, unity, and common love for the planet that we call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Earth is my mother, no other, my sanctuary.
The earth is like a mother to me, it's the only place where I feel safe and protected.
But earth is my prison, my grave and my mortuary
At the same time, the earth can be a place of confinement, death, and decay.
Give me a castle in the sun where rainbows have ends and people are one
I wish for a place where there is abundance, happiness, and unity.
Show me an earth where the birth of a child disguised as the word can be recognized
I long for a world where new beginnings are celebrated and acknowledged despite any social and cultural barriers.
Earth is my nation, my station, obligatory.
I see myself as a citizen of the earth, and it is my duty to take care of it.
But earth is my sorrow, my curses' depository
At the same time, I recognize that my actions and the actions of others have caused environmental problems leading to pain and sadness.
Give me a table beyond the clouds where there's enough food to feed all the crowds
I dream of a world where everyone has access to resources and is well-fed.
Let me hear my other voice who guides me now but gives me choice
I hope to listen to my conscience, which helps me make choices that have a positive impact on me and the environment around me.
Tell me where to find the friend should He pass this way again
I want to know where to find the divine presence that has the power to heal, guide, and protect.
Remember Akka for his sake, the earth is but a snake to His voice that spake
I must remember and respect the spiritual teachings and principles that emphasize the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of living in harmony with nature.
Earth is my mother, no other, my sanctuary. But earth is my prison, my grave and my mortuary
In summary, the earth is both a source of comfort and a place of limitation, and it is up to me to navigate this duality and find a way to live in balance.
Give me a castle in the sun where rainbows have ends and people are one
Repeating this line emphasizes the desire for unity and abundance, which inspires hope for a better future.
Show me an earth where the birth of a child disguised as the word can be recognized
Repeating this line emphasizes the importance of recognizing new beginnings and finding ways to unite despite our differences.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JIMMY SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind