The most familiar line-up included Eve Graham, Lyn Paul, Marty Kristian, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton. In addition to having several big hits, the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, finishing in second place. Author & Historian John Kennedy O'Connor notes in The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, that they got the biggest cheer of the night from the live audience in Edinburgh. They were hot favourites to represent the UK again in 1980 (albeit with only Paul & Marty still in the line up) with the song "Tell Me" but it was disqualified shortly before the televised final of A Song for Europe. Had they appeared in the 1980 UK contest, the group would have been up against their former lead singer Danny Finn who had recently married Eve Graham and was now the lead singer of the winning group Prima Donna. In addition, Mick Flynn and Donna Jones, two members of the current (2007) line up of The New Seekers were also in the field, competing under the group name Pussyfoot.
Their hit single "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, appeared 81st on the list of the UK's best-selling singles issued in 2002. It sold just under one million copies in the United Kingdom alone. The version used in the Coca-Cola television commercials was credited to The Hillside Singers, as many people of various backgrounds and cultures sang the song, holding Coca-Cola bottles on a hillside in the commercial. "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" was so firmly connected with the Coca-Cola product that it eventually became known as "The Coke Song". The song was relaunched in Coca-Cola commercials in 2005.
Other hit singles by The New Seekers included "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma", "Beautiful People" and "The Nickel Song", all of which were written by Melanie Safka. The New Seekers went on to sell over 35 million records worldwide, equalling the eight UK Top Twenty entries by The Seekers. Indeed, they released four albums during 1972 alone.
They also performed the title track to the now-legendary Marlo Thomas television special, "Free to Be... You and Me", a landmark program designed to teach kids how to express themselves and be independent through a series of vignettes which was rebroadcast on the cable network TV Land in late 2006 as a special add-on to their initial run of the classic series, THAT GIRL. Since the special was first broadcast in 1973 the song itself has since become a pop cult classic in its own right.
The New Seekers have continued to perform over the decades with an inevitable personnel changes which included Peter Oliver, Danny Finn, Caitriona Walsh, Nicola Kerr and Vikki James. The New Seekers toured in 2006 and 2007 with the established line up of: Paul Layton, Donna Jones, Francine Rees, Mick Flynn and Mark Hankins. A CD of the 2006 tour was released which includes all of the group's hits along with covers of 'Reflections', 'Run to Me' and 'Strangest Dream'. 2006 was completed with a Royal Variety performance at St. James Palace, London for HRH Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and an appearance on ITV's This Morning. The group are currently managed by Nic Culverwell.
The group's official website is at www.thenewseekers.com and myspace at www.myspace.com/thenewseekersofficial
Boom Town
The New Seekers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleepin' in their cars 'cause they didn't have homes
They thought this place was the promised land
If you could roughneck, we could use a good man
Come on, boy, let me show you around
You could make a lot of money here, livin' in a boomtown
Downshift drive and the people live well
High on the hog and wild on the range
Pocket full of cash instead of chump change
This place kicks when the sun goes down
Ain't life great when you're livin' in a boomtown
You see oil was the blood that flowed through the soul
Keep a man workin' when it's forty below
Relent to the Devil in the cold, cold ground
Trying to make a dollar here
Six short years the oil fields went
Rigs came down and the money got spent
And the wise men saved for a rainy day
The fools packed up and they moved away
The hotels closed and the bars shut down
And it got real quite here, livin' in a boomtown
See oil was the blood that flowed through the soul
Keep a man workin' when it's forty below
Relent to the Devil in the cold, cold ground
Trying to make a dollar here, livin' in a boomtown
Now, the cafe's filled with people tellin' lies
Trying to figure out how the town went dry
You can buy a house, a dime on the dollar
Need a good home just give me a holler
I can move you in with no money down
Still tryin' to make a dollar here, livin' in a boomtown
Livin' in a boomtown, livin' in a boomtown
The New Seekers’ “Boom Town” is a vivid portrayal of an oil boomtown in the United States. It tells the story of people who migrated to the town to look for work, believing they found the promised land only to realize years later that the town lost its vibrancy once the oil fields went dry.
The first stanza illustrates how people trooped to the town from different places without adequate preparation or shelter, with some using their cars as their temporary homes. The second stanza highlights the peak period of the town, where big hotels and bars were built to accommodate revelers, and people lived lavishly. The chorus—“Ain't life great when you're livin' in a boomtown”—would reverberate through the streets, as the outpouring of cash made things possible.
However, the fourth stanza is a reversal of fortune. The oil fields dried up, and the town's economy dwindled as fast as it grew. Hotels and bars shut down, and once-busy streets became eerily quiet, causing the town to be deserted. The last stanza shows how people who still live there, many now without jobs or with unsustainably low wages, tell themselves stories about the town's rise and fall. They sell houses at a discount, but no one is buying, and the hope of recouping their losses or making their dreams come true in a boomtown has vanished.
Overall, “Boomtown” captures the story of America's boom and bust cycles, often triggered by the discovery, exploitation, and the eventual depletion of natural resources. The lyrical strength of the song lies in how it portrays the cyclical nature of the boom and the consequent human experiences, making it a critique of what it means to live a life solely dependent on the actions of global capitalist markets.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the people came here from parts unknown
People migrated to this place with no clear origin.
Sleepin' in their cars 'cause they didn't have homes
People had to sleep in their cars because they had nowhere else to go.
They thought this place was the promised land
People believed this place was the perfect destination that would yield everything they needed.
If you could roughneck, we could use a good man
If you could work hard on oil rigs, you could earn a good living here.
Come on, boy, let me show you around
Come with me, and I'll give you a tour of this place.
You could make a lot of money here, livin' in a boomtown
This is a place where you can earn a lot of money by working hard when the business is thriving.
Well, some build bars and big hotels
Some entrepreneurs construct bars and luxurious hotels in this town.
Downshift drive and the people live well
The working-class people experience an improved lifestyle and economic status due to the booming business of oil drilling.
High on the hog and wild on the range
People have access to lavish goods and enjoyment.
Pocket full of cash instead of chump change
People have large sums of money instead of insignificant coins.
This place kicks when the sun goes down
This place is lively and full of action when night falls.
Ain't life great when you're livin' in a boomtown
This place is incredible due to the prosperous business and resources in town.
You see oil was the blood that flowed through the soul
Oil drilling was the primary source of income and the backbone of this town's economy.
Keep a man workin' when it's forty below
People could work during harsh weather conditions to earn enough money.
Relent to the Devil in the cold, cold ground
People needed to show unwavering persistence to endure tough physical labor.
Trying to make a dollar here
People did everything they could to earn money in this trade.
Six short years the oil fields went
After only six years, the oil fields began to dry up.
Rigs came down and the money got spent
Oil rigs were dismantled, and the money generated from oil drilling was gone.
And the wise men saved for a rainy day
Smart people saved their money for when times got tough.
The fools packed up and they moved away
Foolish people left the town when the business declined, seeking new possibilities elsewhere.
The hotels closed and the bars shut down
Hotels and bars, once thriving, no longer had customers and went out of business.
And it got real quite here, livin' in a boomtown
The town became very quiet after business fizzled out, in contrast to its previous state of excitement and energy.
Now, the cafe's filled with people tellin' lies
Empty cafes and restaurants are now filled with people who lost their money and are communicating false stories.
Trying to figure out how the town went dry
People cannot comprehend why this once thriving boomtown suddenly lost everything.
You can buy a house, a dime on the dollar
Housing prices dropped dramatically, as people sold off their property at low prices.
Need a good home just give me a holler
If you need a good, affordable home, contact the right people.
I can move you in with no money down
You can move in without paying a down payment.
Still tryin' to make a dollar here, livin' in a boomtown
People are still trying to earn money, even though the boomtown no longer exists.
Livin' in a boomtown, livin' in a boomtown
Living in a boomtown can be an incredible experience, despite the potential risk of sudden decline and going bust.
Writer(s): Peter Doyle
Contributed by Arianna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gregzsidisin
Couldn't find the correct lyrics to this amazing song, which I remember from my childhood. After a lot of listens, here they are: I was born on the Canadian National Railway, yay yay
A boxcar on a fireball express
And that’s my home on the top of Buffalo Mountain, yay yay
Old train, old train, that’s where you took your rest
Yay yeah, yeah yeah, yay yeah, yeah yeah
In a week or two, I’ll be leavin’ Buffalo Mountain, yay yay
My home was there from the day I was born
Goodbye train, I’m a-leavin’ for the lowlands, yay yay
I’m tired of mountain dew that’s stilled from corn
Yeah yeah
Buffalo boy, don’t be lonely each day
I got me a guitar, talkin’ all way
How will you buy your fancy boy clothes?
Oh, I’ll put some gold dust under my toes
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Put my feet in the mud, Ma
And river toss your pan
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Take me to them, lead me by the hand
Mama, take me to the lowlands
Mama, take me to the lowlands
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Boom town
Mama, I’m comin’ down
Mountain, cry me your goodbye
And old train, whistle out my name
Soon I’ll make me a fortune
And ride you, iron horse, again
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Boom town
Mama, I’m comin’ down
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Put my feet in the mud, Ma
Take me down to the ground
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Take me down to the valley
Take me down to the ground
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
@themar22
One of my favorite B sides! I love how you can have a tune in your head and instantly find it. Thank you YouTube!
@russakerman7547
What a talent, SO underrated. Peter Doyle RIP
@jmcdowall2001
RIP Peter, I remember buying "I'd like to teach the world to sing" and listening to the B side and thinking that this was amazing.
@everyshalalalala
Me too.
@spontaneousreactionsJohn
I'm glad to know I'm not alone in finding it that way.
@hardlines4
One of my very first 45’ when I was a kid!
@carolinahernandezdezabalo8498
Una gran canción de esta banda musical,aunque diferente a su estilo y de gran garra. Amazing song!!
@ajmittendorf
I love how, at the 2:50 mark, the drums are used to imitate the sound of a train accelerating. Love it!
@MrFuak47
Oh the memories, its mad how the b side is just as popular as the a side. 👍🏻
@gregzsidisin
Couldn't find the correct lyrics to this amazing song, which I remember from my childhood. After a lot of listens, here they are: I was born on the Canadian National Railway, yay yay
A boxcar on a fireball express
And that’s my home on the top of Buffalo Mountain, yay yay
Old train, old train, that’s where you took your rest
Yay yeah, yeah yeah, yay yeah, yeah yeah
In a week or two, I’ll be leavin’ Buffalo Mountain, yay yay
My home was there from the day I was born
Goodbye train, I’m a-leavin’ for the lowlands, yay yay
I’m tired of mountain dew that’s stilled from corn
Yeah yeah
Buffalo boy, don’t be lonely each day
I got me a guitar, talkin’ all way
How will you buy your fancy boy clothes?
Oh, I’ll put some gold dust under my toes
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Put my feet in the mud, Ma
And river toss your pan
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Take me to them, lead me by the hand
Mama, take me to the lowlands
Mama, take me to the lowlands
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Boom town
Mama, I’m comin’ down
Mountain, cry me your goodbye
And old train, whistle out my name
Soon I’ll make me a fortune
And ride you, iron horse, again
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Wash me clean of the mountain
And take me to the lowlands
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Boom town
Mama, I’m comin’ down
Take me down to the valley
Mama, wash my hands
Put my feet in the mud, Ma
Take me down to the ground
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground
Take me down to the valley
Take me down to the ground
Boom town
You’d better, better hold your ground