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.
I'll Play for You
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many will be the blessings and so short will the time, I'll stay with you.
But I'll play for you, I love you yes I do. You can say that I'm your friend,
You can see my life begin and end. I'll always play for you.
[Chorus]
Hear the band, hear the band. Won't you let the music take you, hear the band.
And let this night go on forever, and don't you ever stop the music. Let your spirit set you free.
And these few moments we'll share together, and I'll play for you.
I've practiced many years and I have come a long, long way just to play for you.
My life is but a song that I have written in many ways, just to say to you.
To say, I love you yes I do. And I'd like for you to be
Whatever you would like to be. You'll always be special to me.
Seals & Crofts’s song “I’ll Play for You,” is a beautiful homage to music and the power of its ability to connect people together. The lyrics speak to the notion of performing through the lens of a musician who is grateful to be sharing their talent with others.
When the singer states, “Tonight while the lights are shinin’ and the microphone is on, I’ll play for you,” it is clear that this is an important moment for them. They feel that they have been blessed with a unique talent, and it is their duty to share it with anyone who will listen. The lyrics go on to express the depth of their connection to the audience. The musician sings that they will always play for this person, and even goes as far as to say that they love them.
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the power of music to connect people from all walks of life. The music is something that can transport you to another place and time, unleashing your spirit to be free. The call to “hear the band” encourages the audience to lose themselves in the music and feel the joy of being alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight while the lights are shinin' and the microphone is on, I'll play for you.
As the stage is set and the spotlight shines, I will perform for you.
So many will be the blessings and so short will the time, I'll stay with you.
Although our time together may be brief, I am grateful for the opportunity to be with you and share my music.
But I'll play for you, I love you yes I do. You can say that I'm your friend,
My performance tonight is a demonstration of my affection for you, and I am honored to be considered your friend.
You can see my life begin and end. I'll always play for you.
Through my music, you can catch a glimpse of the entirety of my life, and no matter what happens, I will continue to play for you.
Hear the band, hear the band. Won't you let the music take you, hear the band.
Listen to the beat of the music and let it move you.
And let this night go on forever, and don't you ever stop the music. Let your spirit set you free.
May this moment in time feel eternal, and may you never cease to be moved by the beauty of music. Allow yourself to be liberated by the rhythm.
You can sing and stomp you feet and clap your hands. And these few moments we'll share together, and I'll play for you.
Engage with the music and allow yourself to be swept away. These minutes that we spend together are precious, and I promise to play for you throughout.
I've practiced many years and I have come a long, long way just to play for you.
Countless hours of hard work and dedication have brought me to this moment where I am playing for you.
My life is but a song that I have written in many ways, just to say to you.
This song that I perform tonight is just one expression of the story of my life- a story that I share with you.
To say, I love you yes I do. And I'd like for you to be Whatever you would like to be. You'll always be special to me.
The true message of this song is that I harbor affection for you, and I want you to feel empowered to make your own path in life. No matter what, I believe that you are unique and important.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DARRELL G. CROFTS, JIMMY SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kenmanx1298
SUE TALLEY....
OMG, THE MEMORY'S.
Every Seals & Croft song I hear, Brings me crashing floods of Emotions!
Of a beautiful woman...I once knew.
I love this woman with all of my heart....
She was such a major influence on my childhood / my upbringing...
There's no doubt she made a huge impact on my life...
I owe her, I miss her, I love her.
Beautiful music...
Beautiful memories!
@endi3840
"I'll Play For You"
Tonight while the lights are shinin' and the microphone is on, I'll play for you.
So many will be the blessings and so short will the time, I'll stay with you.
But I'll play for you, I love you yes I do. You can say that I'm your friend,
You can see my life begin and end. I'll always play for you.
Hear the band, hear the band. Won't you let the music take you, hear the band.
And let this night go on forever, and don't you ever stop the music. Let your spirit set you free.
Hear the band, hear the band. You can sing and stomp you feet and clap your hands.
And these few moments we'll share together, and I'll play for you.
I've practiced many years and I have come a long, long way just to play for you.
My life is but a song that I have written in many ways, just to say to you.
To say, I love you yes I do. And I'd like for you to be
Whatever you would like to be. You'll always be special to me.
Hear the band, hear the band. Won't you let the music take you, hear the band.
And let this night go on forever, and don't you ever stop the music. Let your spirit set you free.
Hear the band, hear the band. You can sing and stomp you feet and clap your hands.
And these few moments we'll share together, and I'll play for you.
@cinnamongirl7877
Summer of 1975. I was 13. I played this on vinyl over and over. I vividly remember laying in the hot summer sun in Tennessee and everything feeling like it was perfect. I wish I could go back. My parents have passed away....so much has changed.......life was so easy back then.
@jimmyrich5770
Me tooooo!
@kimb2745
A perfect song. Me too.
@goodgoodvibrations
💛🥲🌼
@pattichristian9661
I was 12...it was the first album I ever bought....in south Georgia...life was perfect.....
@randyduncan4004
Have it on vinyl, 8 track AND cd. Pure harmony band.
@artguillory3498
Seals & Crofts was one of the best duets of our generation . . like most of you I was a teenager when these guys were so popular. Closer to You is one of the best romantic love songs of all time. I was a life guard in N. Fla. 76',77',78' . . Summer Breeze, Diamond Girl, Hummingbird were so special. To all of you who were teenagers in the 70's !!!!! These were the BEST YEARS.
@tammygill1454
🥲❤
@jerryallen2913
Sure does bring back awesome memories. The 70s were the best years ever
@bmxseeker6780
i second that emotion