Their 60s hits included: "I'll Never Find Another You", "A World of Our Own" , "The Carnival is Over" (which the Seekers sung at various closing ceremonies in Australia, including Expo '88 and the Paralympics), "Someday One Day", "Walk With Me", "Morningtown Ride", and "When Will The Good Apples Fall". Their tune "Georgy Girl" in particular served as the title song of the film of the same name. These songs have had significant airplay on 'oldies' radio stations over the years.
Bruce Woodley and The Rain, The Park and Other Things's "I Am Australian", which has been recorded by The Seekers, and by singer Judith Durham with Russell Hitchcock and Mandauway Yunupingu, has become an unofficial Australian anthem.
Five Hundred Miles
The Seekers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I read the things she wrote
She said, we miss you girl
We love you come on home
Well I didn't have to pack
I had it all right on my back
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
It's hard to tell the state I'm in
Where I'm going, where I've been
But there's a dream I've been following so long
If mama knew the things I've done
She'd forgive them everyone
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Can't remember when I ate
it's just thumb and walk and wait
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
If my luck had been just right
I'd be with them all tonight
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home
Cold and tired and all alone
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Lord, I'm still five hundred miles away from home
The Seekers' song "Five Hundred Miles" tells the story of a person who has left his/her family and home behind and is struggling to make their way through life. In the first verse, we learn that the singer has received a note from their mother, filled with tear drops, expressing how much they are missed and loved. Despite the emotional message from home, the singer has everything they need on their back and is determined to keep moving on. The chorus emphasizes how far away from home the singer is, and how lonely and desolate they feel.
The singer seems to be in a state of confusion and turmoil in the second verse, uncertain of their destination and uncertain of where they have been. They do, however, have a dream that they are pursuing, one that has kept them moving forward for a long time. The singer acknowledges that their mother would forgive them for what they have done, but they are still five hundred miles away from home. In the last verse, we see the singer still struggling, walking and waiting, unable to even remember when they last ate. They wonder what could have been if luck had been on their side, and they could have been back home with their family.
There is a sense of deep yearning and sadness in this song, as well as the recognition of the harsh realities of life. The Seekers capture the essence of the human experience in this beautiful piece of music - that the road we take is not always easy, but we keep going forward with the hope of reaching our dreams and returning home one day.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear drops fell on mama's note
I was sad when I read the letter my mother wrote, with tears in my eyes.
When I read the things she wrote
The letter contained words that made me miss home and my family.
She said, we miss you girl
My mother expressed how much she and the family missed me.
We love you come on home
My mother wanted me to come back home because she loves and cares for me.
Well I didn't have to pack
I left home without packing my belongings; I had everything with me.
I had it all right on my back
I carried all my possessions on my back as I left and travelled far away.
Now I'm five hundred miles away from home
Currently, I am 500 miles away from my home and my family.
Away from home, away from home
It's sad to be away from home and family.
Cold and tired and all alone
I feel cold, tired, and lonely being so far away from home by myself.
Yes, I'm five hundred miles away from home
I'm a long way from where I come from and feel the distance acutely.
It's hard to tell the state I'm in
It's difficult to say how I'm faring emotionally and physically being away from home.
Where I'm going, where I've been
I'm unsure of where I'm heading and where I've been in this journey so far.
But there's a dream I've been following so long
I'm pursuing a dream that I've held for a long time, despite the challenges I face along the way.
If mama knew the things I've done
If my mother were aware of what I've went through and what I did, she would forgive me.
She'd forgive them everyone
My mother has a forgiving heart and would forgive everyone, including myself.
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Even though I know my mother would forgive me, I'm still far from home, and it's hard being away from my family.
Can't remember when I ate
I'm so focused on my dream and journey that I can't even remember when I last ate.
it's just thumb and walk and wait
I'm hitchhiking and walking to get to where I'm going, and I have to wait on the side of the road for the next ride.
And I'm still five hundred miles away from home
Despite all the walking, hitchhiking, and waiting, I'm still far away from home and feel the distance deeply.
If my luck had been just right
If I had been lucky and circumstances had turned out differently,
I'd be with them all tonight
I would be with my family tonight, and not miles away from home.
But I'm still five hundred miles away from home
But the reality is that I'm still 500 miles away from home, which saddens me.
Lord, I'm still five hundred miles away from home
I feel lost and alone and can only hope that someday I will make it back home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hedy West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colin Whyte
When I heard of her passing I had an evening of The Seekers, this was the first, closing my eyes and just listening to a voice I first heard as a child in the 60's. I could feel the tears. RIP.
Watermunt2
Have the same
Norma Hernandez
When did she pass away? How old was she?
ignasi
@Watermunt2 ßs
JOHN APPLEBY
Unforgettable actually one of the most popular and successful groups of the Sixties and no wonder!
mr waterschoot
this song was sung buy other artistic as a dutch born american bloke on my side of the northern hemisphere the male bobby bare version rings in my memories yet the seekers version with ms judith durham and the seekers ranks in my top 5 versions of that song. as it has been sung many times before that music is a song in our hearts and music make the world go round.
life on earth is for the living. it is not easy. when god calls you, your living mortal spirit leaves in a transition period called dying and then death. when we take our first breath of life on earth we are born. and like the brothers gibbs the boys of thr bee gees we are staying alive. then god calls and life on earth is over and our mortal spirit leaves earth to join god and rumor has it and i heard it thru the raisins on the grapevine that there is a rock and roll heaven and they have a helluva good band. and only god knows if ms judith durham will sing in that band.
Stephanie Barr
You don’t hear songs and singers like this anymore. Words fail me to express my gratitude for these four precious singers in being in my life for so many years. Thank you Seekers.
Alison Wright
What n amazing vocal group, Judith’s strong and beautiful voice will live on forever. Such a sad loss to all that Judith has passed but what an amazing gift she has left for us.
Warren Warburton
In 1965 I entered active duty in the US Navy as a combat photographers mate, not knowing if I would ever survive to return home. I would play this song to keep the memory of why I was so far away from home. As I boarded a plane leaving Orlando taking me into potential conflict, this song gave me strength to do what I had volunteered to do. I was lucky, I came home.
jamanak123
I just read your comment now. Wow what a powerful story you have. You comment is done some years ago. I hope you are doing fine.