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 BahĆ”'Ć 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 1991ā1992 and appeared at several BahĆ”'Ć 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 2004ā2005.
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.
King of Nothing
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Having everything I wanted
But that was long ago and
My dreams did not unfold so
I'm still the king of nothing
When I was seventeen I dreamed I gave a ring to
A pretty queen and then I held her
I have no love at all and
I'm still the king of nothing
If I could rule I'd dance my cares away
Find romance every day
I wouldn't have to listen to this poor fool say
I'm the king
I'm the king
I'm the king of nothing
If I could rule I'd dance my cares away
Find romance every day
I wouldn't have to listen to this poor fool say
I'm the king
I'm the king
I'm the king of nothing
Seals & Crofts's song "King of Nothing" is a wistful look back at the dreams of youth and the realities of adulthood. The singer of the song reflects on his younger self, who dreamed of being a king and having everything he ever wanted. But time has passed, and those dreams have not come to fruition. The singer is left feeling like the "king of nothing," with nothing but regrets and unfulfilled desires.
The song's chorus emphasizes the singer's desire for a different life, one in which he could "dance his cares away" and "find romance everyday." He longs for a life where he doesn't have to listen to the poor fool who is the "king of nothing." The song's tone is sad and melancholy, with a resigned acceptance of the singer's current situation.
One interesting interpretation of the song is that it could be a commentary on the nature of power and ambition. Despite the singer's dreams of being a king, he is ultimately left feeling unfulfilled and empty. The chorus suggests that true happiness and fulfillment come from simpler pleasures, such as dancing and romance, rather than the trappings of power and wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was seventeen I dreamed of being king and
At the age of seventeen, I had dreams of becoming a king and
Having everything I wanted
possessing everything that I desired
But that was long ago and
However, that was a distant memory now and
My dreams did not unfold so
my dreams did not come to fruition
I'm still the king of nothing
thus, I am still the ruler of insignificance
When I was seventeen I dreamed I gave a ring to
At seventeen, I dreamt that I offered a ring as a sign of love to
A pretty queen and then I held her
an attractive queen and later held her
But that was slumber's fault for
Although those thoughts were imagined while I was asleep due to
I have no love at all and
not experiencing love at all, as a consequence,
I'm still the king of nothing
I'm still a ruler of nothingness
If I could rule I'd dance my cares away
If given a chance to be in charge, I would dance away all my troubles
Find romance every day
I would also discover love daily
I wouldn't have to listen to this poor fool say
I would not need to hear this unwise fellow proclaim
I'm the king
that they are the king
I'm the king
that they are the king
I'm the king of nothing
and are the ruler of nothingness
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JIMMY SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joyce Vigil
Rest in peace Jimmy Seals.
Loved your music.
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Liam Davidson
This song reminds me of my grandfather on my dad's side, who died a few months after I was born. He was an immigrant from Holland, and came through Ellis Island in the 1950s.
My dad told me that he never understood the music that his kids would listen to, but he really enjoyed listening to Seals and Crofts. "King of Nothing" was his favorite song from the group.
I can't help but shed a tear every time I listen to this song.
Aylbdr Madison
What a beautiful real life story. Thanks for sharing it.
Ferdinand Lopez
Great song. If only we can turn back the time.
gbrown4x4
@Mitch Kirsner i think i was in the tenth grade at the time and i remember listening to this during the summer time.........if we could just return to that time just for a minute.........
Mitch Kirsner
You can't? Linear time is just an illusion....
Linda Koschwitz
I was just thinking that same thing. Young and more carefree than we even realized at that time.
Lowtunes Inc.
Man, I had totally forgotten about this song. What a great, great tune!
John Golofit
1974 was filled with good songs like this where you could actually understand what was being sung. How good it was to be 18 at that time and feel like you're the king of everything! But then reality sets in and you wake up. Life is what you make of it...
Maurice Cunningham
@Liane Cornils Except Jesus