Around the time of song’s release, Townshend explained its meaning in an interview with Rolling Stone:
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 fantas...
[Verse 1]
I looked under chairs
I looked under tables
I'm tryin to find the key
To fifty million fables
[Chorus]
They call me the seeker
I been searchin' low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die
[Verse 2]
I asked Bobby Dylan
I asked The Beatles
I asked Timothy Leary
But he couldn't help me either
[Chorus]
They call me the seeker
I been searchin' low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die
[Bridge 1]
People tend to hate me 'cause I never smile
As I ransack their homes, they want to shake my hand
Focusing on nowhere, investigating miles
I'm a seeker, I'm a really desperate man
[Guitar/Piano Solo]
[Chorus 2]
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die
[Bridge 2]
I learned how to raise my voice in anger
Yeah, but 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
[Verse 3]
I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking at each other
And we don't know what to do
[Chorus]
They call me the seeker
I been searchin' low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die
The Seeker was written by Pete Townshend.
The Seeker was produced by The Who & Kit Lambert.
The Who released The Seeker on Sat Mar 21 1970.