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.
Reflections
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But leaving me can't be the remedy
I am bound by my muscle memory
Still holding on even though I lost my dignity
Keep on reaching out
Looking for connections
But I'm band from
Seeking for the answers
Keep on second guessing
If she loves me then
Why aren't we connecting
I'm working on my self
Trying to stop projecting
Visualising the pain
I am rejecting
So I stand proud
Thankful for my health
And if I can't love myself
How can anybody else
And I'm still waking up before dawn
Because I'm torn
In two, half of me
Still resides within you
And as it starts to fade
You won't find me in the shade
I'll still be found
Sitting in the sun you made
And that touch I crave
Because my hearts a slave
To that love you gave
But I must be brave.
And if I'm gonna break
This cycle of shame
I need to lay new pathways
Out in my brain
So my therapist says
That I'm starting to gain
To late to save her
But I'm starting again
So I stand proud
Try to be honest with myself
And if I can't ask for help
How can anybody else
The lyrics to Seals & Crofts's Reflections depict a person who has struggled with their own self-destructive tendencies and is trying to break free from the cycle of shame that they have found themselves in. The songwriter begins by acknowledging that they are their own worst enemy and losing their dignity. They are in a state of muscle memory, unable to let go of the past, and seek connections with others but are afraid to ask questions. The songwriter is second-guessing everything and wondering why they are not able to connect with the person they love, and is trying to work on themselves and stop projecting their pain. They acknowledge that they need to love themselves before anyone else can love them.
The songwriter continues by describing the pain they feel, torn in two, and half of them residing within the person they love. They crave their touch and are still enslaved by the love they gave. However, they also recognize that they need to break the cycle of shame they are in and lay new pathways in their brain. They turn to therapy as a means of gaining insight into their situation and making a fresh start. They stand proud and try to be honest with themselves, knowing that asking for help is the first step towards healing.
Overall, the song Reflections is a powerful commentary on the difficulties of self-love, forgiveness, and healing. It shows a person trying to find their way out of a cycle of shame and self-destruction and making a fresh start by turning to therapy and seeking a path towards self-love and honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
I am my own worst enemy
I am the source of my own problems and difficulties
But leaving me can't be the remedy
The solution to my issues cannot be as simple as separating myself from them
I am bound by my muscle memory
I am physically and mentally programmed to repeat certain behaviors, even if they are harmful
Still holding on even though I lost my dignity
Despite experiencing shame and embarrassment, I cannot let go of certain attachments that contribute to my pain
Keep on reaching out
I continue to seek connection and support
Looking for connections
I desire deeper relationships and meaningful bonds
But I'm band from
However, I am prevented from doing so
Asking her any questions
I am unable or forbidden to seek answers from someone important to me
Seeking for the answers
I am searching for clarity and understanding
Keep on second guessing
I continue to doubt and question my feelings and choices
If she loves me then
Wondering if someone I care about feels the same way towards me
Why aren't we connecting
Despite my efforts, we are not forming a strong bond
I'm working on my self
I am actively trying to better myself
Trying to stop projecting
I am attempting to end the habit of placing my issues and insecurities onto others
Visualising the pain
I am imagining and facing past and present hurts
I am rejecting
I am disallowing negative emotions and experiences to define me
So I stand proud
I am taking ownership of my actions and emotions
Thankful for my health
I am grateful for my physical and mental wellbeing
And if I can't love myself
If I do not accept or appreciate myself
How can anybody else
Then it will be challenging for others to love me or connect with me
And I'm still waking up before dawn
I continue to wake up early or struggle with sleeping
Because I'm torn
I am conflicted or unsure
In two, half of me
I am divided
Still resides within you
I still have feelings or lingering attachments towards someone
And as it starts to fade
As these emotions or attachments begin to lessen
You won't find me in the shade
I will not hide or shrink away
I'll still be found
I will be present and visible
Sitting in the sun you made
Enjoying the positive impact and experiences created by someone
And that touch I crave
I desire physical and emotional connection
Because my hearts a slave
My heart is controlled by my emotions and attachments
To that love you gave
Referring to the affection and attention of someone important to me
But I must be brave.
However, I need to face and overcome my fears and doubts
And if I'm gonna break
If I plan to overcome or leave behind negative patterns in my life
This cycle of shame
This repetitive and debilitating emotional pattern
I need to lay new pathways
I need to create new, positive habits and ways of handling my emotions and experiences
Out in my brain
Reprogramming how I think and react
So my therapist says
Referring to the advice and guidance given to me by a trained professional
That I'm starting to gain
That I am making progress in my personal growth and recovery
To late to save her
Referring to someone who may have been affected negatively by my past behaviors or emotions
But I'm starting again
However, I am committed to trying again and moving forward
Try to be honest with myself
I am attempting to be truthful and acknowledge my own faults and shortcomings
And if I can't ask for help
If I am unable or unwilling to seek assistance
How can anybody else
It will be difficult for anyone else to offer their support and guidance
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Joseph Seal
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind