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.
Ruby Jean and Billie Lee
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I called out to you, and you answered softly.
You are the children's eyes, and I'm the days gone by.
Oh Ruby Jean, it doesn't seem like a long, long time, since we were born again.
Into the dazzling light, uniting black and white.
You are the rich brown earth, and I'm the flowers that grow.
We'll have children (Lua), of the Kingdom (Joshua).
Kill or hate, or hesitate, to love. Justice.
Oh Billie Lee, it's destiny that we meet again, here on this earthly plain.
I'll see all the worlds with you, but you'll have to help me through.
You are the straight and narrow path, and I'm the wayfayer.
Oh Billie Lee, we shall be free in the years to come, to help build the Promised Land.
We'll go where the day springs run, together and live as one.
He is the object of our longing, and we're His creation.
We'll have children (Lua), of the Kingdom (Joshua).
They won't be torn by war, nor will they
Kill or hate, or hesitate, to love. Justice.
The song "Ruby Jean and Billie Lee" by Seals & Crofts, has a dream-like quality to it that invokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for a time when the world was a simpler and more harmonious place, where people from different races and backgrounds could come together and live as one. The singer of the song, whose identity is unclear, dreams of being reunited with Ruby Jean, who symbolizes the children's eyes and the rich brown earth, while he represents the days gone by and the flowers that grow. The dream takes place beyond the stars, indicating a desire to escape the troubles of the world and find a better place, a utopia of sorts.
The lyrics are infused with a sense of hope and optimism that the future will be different from the past and that the children of the Kingdom, Lua and Joshua, will grow up in a world free from war, hate, and injustice. The song's religious undertones are evident in the references to the Promised Land and the object of our longing, and highlight the themes of redemption and salvation.
As the singer is reunited with Billie Lee, he acknowledges their destiny to see all the worlds together, but recognizes that he needs her help in navigating the straight and narrow path. The song ends on a note of unity and togetherness, with the realization that He is the creator and we are all part of his creation.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Ruby Jean, last night I dreamed I was runnin' somewhere beyond the stars.
The singer had a dream where they were running beyond the stars and they thought of Ruby Jean.
I called out to you, and you answered softly.
The singer called out to Ruby Jean in their dream and she responded in a soothing voice.
You are the children's eyes, and I'm the days gone by.
Ruby Jean represents the innocence and wonder of childhood, while the singer represents the past and experiences that have gone by.
Oh Ruby Jean, it doesn't seem like a long, long time, since we were born again.
It feels like it wasn't that long ago when they both experienced a significant rebirth or transformation.
Into the dazzling light, uniting black and white.
Their rebirth brought them into a radiant light that brought together people of all races and skin colors.
You are the rich brown earth, and I'm the flowers that grow.
Ruby Jean embodies a natural, earthly quality while the singer sees themselves as growing or blossoming under her influence.
We'll have children (Lua), of the Kingdom (Joshua).
The couple plans to have children, named Lua and Joshua, who will belong to a greater spiritual kingdom.
They won't be torn by war, nor will they Kill or hate, or hesitate, to love. Justice.
Their children will not be affected by the violence of war, and they will be unafraid to love and seek justice.
Oh Billie Lee, it's destiny that we meet again, here on this earthly plain.
It is fate that the artist and Billie Lee are brought together again on Earth.
I'll see all the worlds with you, but you'll have to help me through.
The artist wants to explore the world with Billie Lee but admits that they will need her guidance and support through it all.
You are the straight and narrow path, and I'm the wayfayer.
Billie Lee represents a clear and unwavering path, while the singer sees themselves as someone who wanders or explores more freely.
Oh Billie Lee, we shall be free in the years to come, to help build the Promised Land.
The artist and Billie Lee will have the freedom to help make the world a better place in the years to come.
We'll go where the day springs run, together and live as one.
They will travel to beautiful, natural places and live together in harmony.
He is the object of our longing, and we're His creation.
God is the focus of their desires and aspirations, and they believe that they were created by Him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DARRELL G. CROFTS, JIMMY SEALS, Darrell Crofts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ledzep5876
Absolutely beautiful song about their wives. Singers and song writers like this just don't exist like this anymore.
@petersenior8735
RIP Jim Seals. The tears stream from my eyes as I remember the music you played for us. Your and Dash Crofts songs will always live in our hearts. You were a genius lyricist and gave us so many wonderful memories. I still have most of your songs on my pc. Like a Summer Breeze, you made us all feel fine when your music came blowing gently through our minds. The first time I heard about the Baha'i Faith with its wonderful message of unity which the world needs more now than ever was in your music. You will never "pass this way again" but your legacy endures.
"...Oh Ruby Jean,it doesn't seem like a long, long time, since we were born again. Into the dazzling light, uniting black and white.You are the rich brown earth, and I'm the flowers that grow...
...Oh Billie Lee, we shall be free in the years to come, to help build the Promised Land.
We'll go where the day springs run, together and live as one.
He is the object of our longing, and we're His creation.
We'll have children (Lua), of the Kingdom (Joshua).
They won't be torn by war, nor will they
Kill or hate, or hesitate, to love. Justice.
@andrewpetik2034
I cry reading your comments.....
Peace to you and all here 🙏
@lyndabryant7390
This is so beautiful! I just found out that Jim passed away😓 I’m so very blessed to grow up with such Amazing music. Thank you 💜
@michaelstephens2685
My sister and her family are Bahai's. I got to meet Seals and Crofts when they were in Bloomington In back in the early 70's
@joeyb9229
This is the most beautiful song I've ever heard and I used to play it for the most beautiful woman I've ever known on her deathbed. Every time I relisten to it I'm inextricably linked to my mom's soul. This song is a gift to the universe. The same gift I've tried to be after being given a second chance at life.
@r-platt
My parents dedicated this song to my brother and me. I can't get it out of my mind since my dad passed away on March 5, 2021.
Thank you for helping keep it alive.
@Trevorjennings679
Hello Pretty, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??
@vavs4de
Rest in peace, Jim Seals. Thanks for all of the great tunes.
@Trevorjennings679
Hello Pretty, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the COVID-19 virus??