It suffered from being the first thing we did after Tommy, and also from being recorded a few too many times. We did it once at my home studio, then at IBC where we normally worked then with Kit Lambert producing. Then Kit had a tooth pulled, breaking his jaw, and we did it ourselves. The results are impressive. It sounded great in the mosquito-ridden swamp I made it up in—Florida at three in the morning drunk out of my brain with Tom Wright and John Wolff. But that’s always where the trouble starts, in the swamp. The alligator turned into an elephant and finally stampeded itself to death on stages around England. I don’t think we even got to play it in the States. – Pete Townshend on The Seeker
There are so many songs to choose from that could be considered philosophical. I’ve listened to Pete Townshend’s album, “Who Came First” a lot since Max from Powerpop wrote a post on it back in December, which motivated me to buy a copy. Reading Max’ post, I see he got the idea to listen to it from CB (i.e. Cincinnati Babyhead) who knows a lot about a lot of music also.
Many/most rock-oriented readers know that Peter “Pete” Dennis Blandford Townshend (b. 5/19/45) is an English musician who is the co-founder, guitarist, keyboardist, second lead vocalist, principal songwriter and de facto leader of The Who. Pete has written more than 100 songs for 12 of The Who’s studio albums. He was with the band from 1964-1982 and began solo work from 1972 – present. Interestingly, Pete has also continued working the remaining members of the band from 1996 – present.
“Who Came First” is Pete’s debut studio album, released in October 1972. He had already participated with other artists on two previous albums in tribute to his guru Meher Baba, Happy Birthday and I Am. The original release had 9 songs on it. “The Seeker” is not one of them. My copy is a 1992 release has 6 bonus tracks, where it is the 2nd bonus track, or song 11. Please look at the end of the post for the CD info (gleaned from discogs purchase record.)
“The Seeker” was written by Pete Townshend and performed by English rock band The Who. First released as a non-album single in March 1970, it is included on their 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy and other compilations.
Quite loosely, “The Seeker” was just a thing about what I call Divine Desperation, or just Desperation. And what it does to people. It just kind of covers a whole area where the guy’s being fantastically tough and ruthlessly nasty and he’s being incredibly selfish and he’s hurting people, wrecking people’s homes, abusing his heroes, he’s accusing everyone of doing nothing for him and yet at the same time he’s making a fairly valid statement, he’s getting nowhere, he’s doing nothing and the only thing he really can’t be sure of is his death, and that at least dead, he’s going to get what he wants. He thinks! — Pete Townshend, about The Seeker
As I don’t remember hearing The Who version of the song, this version by Pete is my favorite. I love the lyrics and how he flips high and low to low and high. I love the melody of it. I love the guitar in it. “I won’t get to get what I’m after ‘til the day I die.” If that isn’t a philosophical statement, I don’t know what is. I love the name dropping. I like the idea that the concept of the album is as tribute to Townshend’s guru, Meher Baba.
The Cover
The original release had a gatefold cover and included a poster with additional photos of Meher Baba from the Louis van Gasteren film Beyond Words (1997.) The cover photo of Townshend standing on eggs is a reference to the eternal question “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” (although the album title changes it to “Who Came First” as a reference to the Townshend’s band The Who). At discogs I was able to find a CD with a cool little booklet.
The Seeker
Looked under chairs
Looked under tables
Tried to find the key
To fifty million fables
They call me The Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't find what I'm after
'Til the day I die
I asked my idols
The questions to my mother
I bought tickets just anywhere
Hoping to discover
They call me, The Seeker
I've been looking low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I truly die
People tend to hate me
'Cause I never smile
As I ransack their homes
They wanna shake my hand
Focusing on nowhere
Investigating miles
I'm a seeker
I'm a really desperate man
Asked Bobby Dylan
I asked the Beatles
Asked Timothy Leary
But he didn't help me either
They call me The Seeker
I've been looking low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I die
I learned how to raise my voice in anger
But now, look at my face, ain't this a smile?
I'm happy when life's good and when it's bad, I cry
I got values but I don't know how or why
I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking at each other
And we don't know what to do
They call me The Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Till the day I die
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I die
Songwriter: Pete Townshend
Source of info: wikipedia
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. Jim says:
This week the theme is to find a philosophical song.
Tao Talk 
Thanks for choosing this great track Lisa it’s been years since I listened to it 🙌
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Ange, so happy to bring it back to you :)
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Interesting choice of version for this. I hadn’t heard this before but am very familiar with the original: I had the Meaty Beaty album. Hard though he tries, Pete can’t match Daltrey’s vocals, for me.
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Clive, glad you heard this version. I believe that often it’s a version of a song you hear first that becomes your favorite. I listened to the original last night and think it’s good.
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You could well be right about that. I’ve known the original for much longer!
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Even though I had never heard the song in either incarnation- I enjoyed your commentary so much. I love how you took us right inside his head. And to me that is the most impressive place one can go when discussing philosophical leanings. Great write, Li.
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So happy you enjoyed the song and the commentary. Thanks, V :)
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Nice choice for this topic Lisa. Haven’t listened to this in forever.
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I adore this album. Glad to bring it back to you, Randy.
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O loved your choice, Lisa and Pete Townshend deals with the existential struggle for meaning, purpose, and spiritual truth in this song, while acknowledging the inherent isolation and frustration of not being able to find it till he is dead.
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Jim, after reading Pete’s quotes, it feels like he didn’t much like that seeker. When I first heard the song, I thought the seeker was almost contradictory in that, even though he’s constantly seeking for it while alive, he knows he’s never going to find it. I thought the statement that he will find it after death was a nod to his teacher. The two don’t add up.
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Trying to figure out Pete Townshend would be harder than trying to learn Chinese for me, but I enjoy all of his music.
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Thanks for introducing me to this track I had never heard before. I like your write-up on this…
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Marina, so happy you got a chance to hear it.
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Well, I now have to admit I didn’t know Pete Townshend although I have vaguely heard of The Who. TC will know.
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Roberta, I’m glad to have added the bio info on him then. I’m guessing TC will know.
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Yes, I asked him. He does.
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Keeping Pete’s music alive Lisa. Very cool. The whole Who Came First’ slipped by a lot of people. I was with Townshend, I want going to ask Timothy anything either.
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Lovely comment, CB. I feel the same about Leary.
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We wont beat him up but we have the same feeling.
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I only knew The Who’s version of “The Seeker,” which I liked from the get-go. I also like Townshend’s stripped back acoustic version. It looks like that rendition wasn’t on the original version of Townsend’s solo debut but was added as a bonus track on a 2006 reissue. Nice pick! :-)
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Yes, I mentioned that in the post about the bonus tracks. I am looking at the physical copy of it and see this is not the 2006 reissue, but a 1992 one. I’m going to take a pic of the inside and add it to the bottom of the post.
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Christian, I’m glad you commented on it because I went back to discogs to get the info as it wasn’t findable on the physical CD or packaging. The booklet is almost all about the guru, with pics and essay.
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Pete’s solo version is great. Thanks for the intro!😀
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<3
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great choice Lisa this is a very clever song 💜💜💜
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Yes it is, Willow. Glad you enjoyed listening.
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Hi Li, what a great write up on this song and Pete Townsend. I was not familiar with the track, nor indeed Timothy Leary. I do now! I had to Google Leary. Now it makes sense why he would ask him for the answers. great choice today as it fitted the prompt perfectly 🥰
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hi again Li, it’s Christine. I am anonymous today. It seems!
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Hi Li, what a great write up on this song and Pete Townsend. I was not familiar with the track, nor indeed Timothy Leary. I do now! I had to Google Leary. Now it makes sense why he would ask him for the answers. great choice today as it fitted the prompt perfectly 🥰
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Such a great choice, Lisa. Thanks!
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:)
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His perception of this song’s effect is interesting. It’s always been a favorite of mine. I do like the Who’s version best though–the faster tempo suits it. Or maybe it’s because it’s the one I know and love. (K)
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Kerfe, I agree with your first sentence. I like the original version also, with Roger singing and Moon on the drums. I’d like to know more about his connection with his guru, Baba. A lot of it is in the booklet that comes with the CD.
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You’ve got me thinking about the Who. I’m not even sure I have any of their CDs, but their music is embedded in my mind. But then I listened to the radio nonstop for many years.
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Besides this CD, I bought Quadrophenia a year or so ago but have only listened once. I remember listening to a lot of songs from Tommy also.
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Fabulous song choice and article, Lisa! What a rocker; sounds fantastic on headphones. I am quite sure I had never heard Townsend’s version. It’s good, though I prefer The Who’s.
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Steve, I bet it and the rest of the album does sound good with headphones. I need to pull mine out and give it a listen. I think it’s about 70/30 in favor of the original.
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Headphones make most music so much better… it’s like they encourage that “intentional listening” I’ve talked about a few times in posts.
I’m not surprised by that rating; I think people tend to gravitate to what they know, and believe the original would have had a wider audience, but that’s just a guess.
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Ooooh, I feel this – seeker of truth!
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I remember a version of this song getting a lot of FM radio play, but years after Tommy was released. Never realized it was one of the first things they did after Tommy. I can see how it got lost in the shuffle after their ambitious rock opera and hear many themes reprised in this song.Thanks for seeking this track out.
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Cool that you remember it. You are welcome, Pete.
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i truly did 💜💚
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