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.
The Wreck of the Old '97
The Seekers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What am I to do?
Now summer's almost through in September.
For love has come and gone,
Didn't stay for long;
One thing I will always remember.
When the green, whispering leaves had called your name,
The gentle, sighing winds, they did the same.
And for no reason why,
A sad cloud is crying tears of rain.
We stood and watched the rain;
Perhaps we will again,
For no one knows what's coming tomorrow.
One day you may find
That I am close behind;
Wherever you may go I will follow.
And the green, whispering leaves will call your name;
The gentle, sighing winds will do the same.
Now the sun is in the sky,
And for no reason why,
The sad cloud is crying itself away.
And the green, whispering leaves will call your name;
The gentle, sighing winds will do the same.
Now the sun is in the sky,
And for no reason why,
The sad cloud is crying itself away.
The lyrics of "What Am I to You" are a contemplation of a past love and the uncertainty of the future. The first verse speaks of the end of summer, a time when love is often associated with growth and vitality, and asks the question "What am I to you?" The second verse laments that love has come and gone quickly, but there is still something worth cherishing in the memory. The third verse speaks of the rain and the sadness that accompanies it, but emphasizes the possibility of experiencing that same moment of connection in the future. The repetition of the phrases "The green, whispering leaves will call your name; The gentle, sighing winds will do the same" emphasizes the power of nature to evoke memories and emotions.
The overall feeling of the song is wistful and reflective, but there is a sense of hope as well. The singer is willing to follow the object of their affection wherever they go, despite the uncertainty of what the future may hold. The use of natural imagery, such as the leaves and winds, suggests a cycle of growth and change that is mirrored in the emotions of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I to you?
Questioning the place and importance in someone else's life.
What am I to do?
Wondering how to act or what to say in a given situation.
Now summer's almost through in September.
The passing of time, one season giving way to the next.
For love has come and gone,
Acknowledging the briefness of a romantic relationship, now over.
Didn't stay for long;
Reiterating that the love was short-lived.
One thing I will always remember.
Reflecting on one positive aspect or memory from the relationship.
When the green, whispering leaves had called your name,
Recalling a specific moment, perhaps in nature, where the person was present.
The gentle, sighing winds, they did the same.
Noting the ambient sounds of nature in this remembered moment.
Now the sun has left the sky,
Describing a shift in the weather or time of day.
And for no reason why,
Pointing out that sometimes things happen for no discernible reason.
A sad cloud is crying tears of rain.
Personifying a raincloud, emphasizing its melancholic appearance.
We stood and watched the rain;
Reliving a rainy moment with the person.
Perhaps we will again,
Leaving open the possibility of another joint rain-watching experience.
For no one knows what's coming tomorrow.
Expressing the uncertainty of the future.
One day you may find / That I am close behind;
Suggesting a kind of longing or desire to be near this person.
Wherever you may go I will follow.
Making a bold declaration of one's dedication to the person.
And the green, whispering leaves will call your name;
Returning to a familiar image and sound in nature from earlier in the song.
The gentle, sighing winds will do the same.
Repeating the earlier line, adding emphasis to the calling of the person's name by the elements of nature.
Now the sun is in the sky,
Acknowledging another shift in weather and time of day.
And for no reason why,
using the same phrase structure as earlier to reinforce the idea that not everything has an explanation.
The sad cloud is crying itself away.
Describing the end of the rainstorm and personifying the cloud once again.
And the green, whispering leaves will call your name;
Repeating an earlier line from earlier in the song to create a sense of cohesion and symmetry.
The gentle, sighing winds will do the same.
Closing the song by repeating the earlier line a second time, creating a sense of resolution.
Now the sun is in the sky,
Ending on the same line as before, providing a sense of cyclical closure to the song.
And for no reason why,
Repeating again the phrase used earlier which acknowledges that sometimes things happen for no clear reason.
The sad cloud is crying itself away.
Closing the song with an image of nature and perhaps a metaphor for moving on from sad emotions or difficult experiences.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRUCE WOODLEY, JUDITH DURHAM, ATHOL GUY, KEITH LEON POTGER, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind