Seek And You Shall Find
The Isley Brothers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh I used to ask my mother
Would I ever find true love?
She would tell me, true love is hard to find

So I traveled on
Everyone I came upon
I would stop and ask
They would tell me
True love is hard to find
That's what they would say

The years that passed
I'm all alone
No longer do I ask
I just place my faith
In five little words
From way back in my past
My mama said
Seek and you shall find
That's what mama said
Seek and you shall find

Sometimes I get so lonely
It seems useless to groan
But then I remember
Somewhere true love has waited there
But I'll keep on holding on
Keep on keeping on
But I know that I keep trying
I can lose
Seek and you shall find
That's what my mama said
Seek and you shall find
Help me somebody!
Oooh
Oooh
Oh

There is no happy ending
To this story I'm telling you
But I remember somewhere
True love, I know it's waiting there
I'm gonna keep on keeping on
You know that I'm gonna keep holding on
Cause I now if I keep trying
I can't lose, cause there's no denying
Seek and you shall find
I know that's what my mama said
Seek and you shall find
Ohhh
Seek and you shall find
If it's love that you're looking for
Seek and you shall find




It must be right around the corner
Seek

Overall Meaning

And You Shall Find by The Isley Brothers is a song about the journey of finding true love. The singer of the song starts off by asking his mother about his chances of finding true love. She warns him that true love is hard to find. However, the singer decides to embark on his journey anyway. Throughout the years, he asks everyone he meets if they have any insights on the matter of true love. Everyone he asks tells him that true love is hard to find.


After years of searching, the singer finds himself alone and not asking anyone anymore. Instead, he places his faith in his mother's advice to seek and you shall find. Despite getting lonely and feeling like he's not making any progress, he keeps on holding on and keeping on. He believes that he will find true love if he keeps trying because there's no denying what his mother said - seek and you shall find.


The song's chorus is the most memorable part of the song. It highlights the message of the song and encourages listeners always to keep seeking for their desires. It's a song that can be interpreted in different ways, but it ultimately hopes to inspire listeners to keep on searching for what they want in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh I used to ask my mother
The singer recalls asking their mother about true love.


Would I ever find true love?
The singer asked if they would find true love.


She would tell me, true love is hard to find
The mother responds that true love is difficult to come by.


So I traveled on
The artist continued their journey through life.


Everyone I came upon
The artist encountered various people during their journey.


I would stop and ask
The singer would inquire about true love.


They would tell me
The people the singer spoke with responded.


True love is hard to find
The artist received the same response from everyone: true love is difficult to come by.


That's what they would say
The artist notes that the response was consistent.


The years that passed
Time goes by.


I'm all alone
The singer is currently alone.


No longer do I ask
The artist no longer inquires about true love.


I just place my faith
The singer believes in something.


In five little words
The singer believes in a simple phrase.


From way back in my past
The singer remembers the phrase from long ago.


My mama said
The artist recalls their mother's words.


Seek and you shall find
The phrase the artist believes in: that searching will lead to results.


That's what mama said
Repeating that what the singer believes in was said by their mother.


Sometimes I get so lonely
The singer feels lonely at times.


It seems useless to groan
The artist feels that complaining is unproductive.


But then I remember
The artist recalls something that gives them hope.


Somewhere true love has waited there
The artist believes that true love exists somewhere.


But I'll keep on holding on
The singer resolves to continue with their journey.


Keep on keeping on
The artist emphasizes their commitment to persisting.


But I know that I keep trying
The singer remains determined to keep searching for true love.


I can lose
The singer recognizes that they may not find what they're looking for.


Seek and you shall find
The singer repeats the phrase they believe in to motivate themselves.


That's what my mama said
Again, reminding the audience that the phrase is something the artist's mother said.


Help me somebody!
The artist makes a plea for assistance.


Oooh
The singer is wrapped up in their emotions.


There is no happy ending
The singer acknowledges that the story does not have a positive conclusion.


To this story I'm telling you
The artist acknowledges that this is their story.


But I remember somewhere
Despite the lack of a happy ending, the artist has hope.


True love, I know it's waiting there
The artist still believes in true love's existence.


I'm gonna keep on keeping on
Once again, the singer emphasizes their commitment to continue their search.


You know that I'm gonna keep holding on
The artist will not give up on finding true love.


Cause I now if I keep trying
The singer firmly believes that persistence is key.


I can't lose, cause there's no denying
The singer believes that they will eventually find true love if they keep searching.


If it's love that you're looking for
The singer addresses the audience directly, recognizing that they too may be searching for love.


It must be right around the corner
The artist believes that love is close by, within reach.


Seek
The song ends with a final repetition of the phrase the artist believes in: to seek is to find.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVY JO HUNTER, WILLIAM STEVENSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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