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.
The Longest Road
Seals & Crofts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the album THE LONGEST ROAD (1980).
You know the longest road is from the head to the heart.
Better start today if you think loving me be hard.
And the darkest shade is sometimes under the light.
If it's right for you to see me, you'll be mine tonight.
And the longest road is from the head to the heart.
When you're far away from love, you know it's usually close.
And anything you find looks good to you, you wanted most.
The darkest night is somewhere, just before the dawn.
I'll be here to hold when you feel you can't go on.
Love helps its own, it can never change your mind. Only love can hide you, and you'll see.
Love, it only knows the longest road. The mind protects the soul, then your heart knows [?].
And the longest road is from the head to the heart.
And the longest road is from the head to the heart.
The longest road is from the head to the heart. . .
Seals & Crofts's song, The Longest Road, is a touching melody that talks about the longest journey one can ever take – from the head to the heart. The song addresses the vulnerability of love and the deep sentiments that come along with it. The artist highlights the fact that love can be complicated and challenging to grasp, and that the journey to truly love someone starts in the head.
The first stanza of the song emphasizes how the path to love is not an easy one, and it must start immediately to avoid any difficulties. The second stanza describes how love can be found even when it is far away, and it can still be cherished even in the darkest of times. Love can help you overcome the darkest night, and it can give you the strength to keep moving forward.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "The longest road is from the head to the heart," underlining the message that love is a journey not to be taken lightly. It requires time, effort, and patience to discover it fully. It also emphasizes how love transcends our thoughts and only resides in our hearts, making the journey to truly love someone much more profound.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder that love is a journey that requires patience, perseverance and a willingness to take risks. Although the road can be long and tumultuous, it is a journey worth taking.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the longest road is from the head to the heart.
Making the journey from intellect to emotions is the most difficult path to navigate.
Better start today if you think loving me be hard.
If you anticipate difficulties in loving me, it's best to begin the journey sooner rather than later.
And the darkest shade is sometimes under the light.
There can be shadows lurking beneath a seemingly bright surface.
If it's right for you to see me, you'll be mine tonight.
If fate has determined that our paths shall cross, we shall be together tonight.
When you're far away from love, you know it's usually close.
Distance can create the illusion of love being far away when it's actually closer than you think.
And anything you find looks good to you, you wanted most.
When desperate for love, you may settle for anything that looks promising, even if it's not what you truly desire.
The darkest night is somewhere, just before the dawn.
The bleakest moments occur before the hope of a new day emerges.
I'll be here to hold when you feel you can't go on.
I will provide comfort and support during your moments of doubt and despair.
Love helps its own, it can never change your mind.
Love provides its own guidance and reassurance, but cannot manipulate one's thoughts.
Only love can hide you, and you'll see.
Love can protect and shelter you from harm or distress, allowing for greater clarity and insight.
Love, it only knows the longest road.
The journey of love is often lengthy and challenging.
The mind protects the soul, then your heart knows [?].
Protecting one's innermost self allows for the heart to fully embrace love.
And the longest road is from the head to the heart.
Once more, the path from intellect to emotions is the most daunting journey.
And the longest road is from the head to the heart.
Repeating the central message once again for emphasis.
The longest road is from the head to the heart. . .
Repeating one final time, encapsulating the song's main theme.
Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.