Three tracks from the recording sessions remain unreleased: "Marcia's Place," "The Gate" and "I'll Be Satisfied."
Produced by Louie Shelton; Horn and String Arrangements – David Paich; Vocals – Jim Seals and Dash Crofts; Guitars and Banjos – Jim Seals and Louie Shelton; Keyboards – David Paich and Jack Lenz; Drums – Ed Green, Jeff Porcaro on “Golden Rainbow,” Jim Varley on “I’ll Play For You”; Percussion – Antoine Dearborn; Trumpet – Larry Ford, Ron King, Paul Hubinon and Bobby Shew; Reeds – Bob Crosby, Jim Horn, Steve Leeds, Gebe Cipriano and Henry Sigismondi; Trombone – Dick “Slyde” Hyde, John Leys, Lew McCreary; Bass – Wilton Felder, Mike Porcaro on “I’ll Play For You” and “Castles In the Sand”; Slide Guitar – Ovid Stevens; Flute – Jack Lenz on “I’ll Play For You”; Arp Synthesizer – Jack Lenz on “Fire and Vengeance”; Engineers – Tom Knox and Joe Bogan; Second Engineer – Marcus Joseph; Studio – Dawnbreaker Studios, California; Special thanks to Jerry Spry; Art Direction and Design – Robert Lockart; Photography – Ivan Nagy.
01. I'll Play For You
02. Golden Rainbow
03. Castles In the Sand
04. Blue Bonnet Nation
05. Ugly City
06. Wayland the Rabbit
07. Freaks Fret
08. Truth Is But a Woman
09. Fire and Vengeance
I'LL PLAY FOR YOU
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals & Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the albums I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975), I DIDN'T KNOW THEY STILL
MADE RECORDS LIKE THIS (1975), GREATEST HITS (1975) and
THE SEALS & CROFTS COLLECTION (1979).
Tonight while the lights are shinin' and the microphone is on, I'll play for you.
So many will be the blessings and so short will the time, I'll stay with you.
But I'll play for you, I love you yes I do. You can say that I'm your friend,
You can see my life begin and end. I'll always play for you.
Hear the band, hear the band. Won't you let the music take you, hear the band.
And let this night go on forever, and don't you ever stop the music. Let your spirit set you free.
Hear the band, hear the band. You can sing and stomp you feet and clap your hands.
And these few moments we'll share together, and I'll play for you.
I've practiced many years and I have come a long, long way just to play for you.
My life is but a song that I have written in many ways, just to say to you.
To say, I love you yes I do. And I'd like for you to be
Whatever you would like to be. You'll always be special to me.
(repeat chorus)
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GOLDEN RAINBOW
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals, Dash Crofts, Bobby Lichtig,
Jim Varley and Roger Johnson, 1975)
From the albums I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975) and TODAY (1998, 2000).
In the evening when I wake up and my golden rainbow is gone.
I reach out and I feel you there. And I see that look on your face.
And it seems so natural, here with you.
In the closing moments just before I lose myself.
I forget about my problems and I just leave all my cares behind.
And for awhile, it seems almost worth it, here with you.
I would give my life for you, golden rainbow girl.
You make the darkness disappear, you brighten up my world.
I would say you're good for me, golden rainbow girl.
You make the darkness disappear, you brighten up my world.
When the evening star is rising and the shadows gather 'round.
I go back to where I found you. And I see that look on your face.
And it seems, oh so beautiful, here with you.
I would give my life for you, golden rainbow girl.
You make the darkness disappear, you brighten up my world.
I would say you're good for me, golden rainbow girl.
You make the darkness disappear, you brighten up my world.
Yes you do, yes you do.
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CASTLES IN THE SAND
(lyrics and music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the albums I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975), GREATEST HITS (1975) and
THE SEALS & CROFTS COLLECTION (1979).
Every little thing you do makes me feel good.
And I could be your prince, babe, if I only would.
And I could take you places you think you'd like to go.
And I could show you secrets behind ev'ry closed door.
But it's only the castles in the sand. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Now every little thing you do makes me feel fine.
And I could be your daddy, if it's on your mind.
And I could buy you diamonds and all them fancy clothes.
And I could give you lovin' like nobody knows.
But it's only the castles in the sand, love. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Your eyes are dancing and saying to me in the sunlight, I want you so,
You are beautiful, a princess. But I'm like the sand when the wind blows.
It's only the castles in the sand. I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, they'll never, never stand.
Like castles in the sand, I'll never be your man.
Castles in the sand, castles in the sand, castles in the sand.
See the castles in the sand.
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BLUE BONNET NATION
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
Way down yonder in the Blue Bonnet Nation,
People been a-waiting just to hear his sweet name.
Way down yonder where there's desolation,
People irresistibly drawn to his flame.
Hungry for the life, I'm so hungry for the life.
I know that it exists for lo, my lips have kissed
The feet of the century of his being.
Way down yonder in the western reservation.
People been a-waiting just to see some kind of change.
Oh how I love to see daylight in the Texas sky up above, yes I do.
Oh how I love to see daylight in the Texas sky up above, up above.
Hungry for the words, so hungry for the words.
The answers for a million years. Sacrifice and human tears.
Unfolding, cascading, perfect liberty.
Way down yonder in the Blue Bonnet Nation,
People been a-waiting just to hear his sweet name.
Way down yonder where there's desolation,
People irresistibly drawn to his flame.
Oh how I love to see daylight in the Texas sky up above. . .
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UGLY CITY
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
Oh, this ugly city. I can't even seem to see the stars up above.
Oh, this lonely city. Where can I go but to the arms of the one I love.
She knows me. We've got so many things, I should be so thankful.
She's beautiful, and day by day it just grows and grows.
And like the ocean, it just rolls. While the ugly city grows.
But we're safe my love and me, 'cause our love is like the sea, oh.
I once saw a rainbow in Washington. But only one, then day was done.
It lived for just a little while, then the city smiled and it died.
Someday I'll leave this ugly city. Up and pack my bags and catch me an eastern bound train.
Yes, I'm gonna leave this lonely city. I'm leaving just as soon as I find my fortune and fame.
Oh this ugly city. Working a poor man to fill an early grave.
Wish it would rain.
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WAYLAND THE RABBIT
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
Oh my Wayland, there's deer in the forests and rivers are flowing just for you.
Oh my father, look down through the mountains and valleys, the grain's in the silo.
All for you.
One fine morning, as Dad was walking, just to see what he could see.
He spied, a little white rabbit. He was frozen as solid as he could be.
And Dad cried, as he knelt down beside him. He asked God, "How could you be so cruel?"
And his heart broke, for the little white rabbit. "But you see that the owl
Would never have been so gentle,
And God is so kind."
I love Wayland 'cause he's strong. And I love him 'cause he's weak.
And the rabbit is running within him.
Oh my Wayland, the children are waiting and berries are ripe down below the hill.
Oh, my father, the shadows of nighttime can't touch you.
Immortal go quickly, be thankful the water is cool.
Drink your fill.
Today as I walked 'long beside him, I said, "Dad why do you look so sad?"
He turned as he stood by the doorway, he said, "Things are not like they used to be."
I smiled, as if I could teach him. I said "Dad, it's mercy in disguise.
Once you told of a little white rabbit, and you said that the owl
would never have been so gentle, and God is so kind."
And I love you 'cause you're strong. And I love you 'cause you're weak.
And the rabbit is running within me.
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FREAKS FRET
(music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
Instrumental from the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
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TRUTH IS BUT A WOMAN
(lyrics by James Seals; music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1975)
From the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
Truth is but a woman with flaxen hair,
While blown by the wind cannot begin.
Lest the ravens utter in despair, for they cannot caress her flower
Nor in the hour find hands of care, so 'round the maypole drift their wings
They cannot drink her beauty springs.
Truth is but a woman, with eyes of black,
While seen through her tears can see no fears.
Lest they be seen from the other side, and I cannot behold her smile
But in my trial hope to abide, so 'round the maypole hover near
In someway her lover here, and truth is but a woman.
Truth is but a woman, adorned in white
A child in waiting like a mystic bride.
Without a husband standing by her side, and she cannot withhold her love.
It's you and me she's thinking of, so 'round the maypole drift our wings
Listen to the song she sings. Oh, truth is but a woman, oh.
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FIRE AND VENGEANCE
(lyrics and music by James Seals and Dash Crofts, 1969)
From the album I'LL PLAY FOR YOU (1975).
Outside it looks like vengeance, outside it looks like fire.
But inside it is mercy and inside it is love, love.
Outside it is raining, outside it is cold.
But inside love's explaining something to your soul. Love.
Let me tell 'bout love, when you got love, everybody loves, one another and everything is alright.
Today's a day for planning, a day for you and me.
The changes of tomorrow will surely set us free.
To love, lo, lo, love.
Let me hear you say love, it's alright.
I want you to know, wherever you go. The world is a classroom
Just to teach your soul all about love, love, love.
(sotto voce) Got to live, got to die. Got to give, got to try.
Love, lo, lo, love.
Let me hear you say love, when you got love, everybody loves, one another and everything is alright.
Give me love, sweet love. I gotta have love, love, love, love.
Just a little bit of love.
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