The song "The Seeker" by Merle Haggard is about a person who feels lost and hopeless, and is seeking guidance and help from a teacher or a leader. The lyrics express the singer's desperation and his belief that he is weak and worthless. He pleads with the teacher to reach down and lead him, guide him, and keep him in the shelter of their care. The singer compares himself to an empty vessel, a bad seed, and a loser who wants to become a winner. He acknowledges that the teacher is his last hope and begs them not to turn him away. The chorus of the song repeats the singer's plea for the teacher to reach out to him and show him the way. The singer also acknowledges that the teacher has knowledge and wisdom, likening them to a mountain from which flows a fountain of wisdom and salvation. Overall, the song "The Seeker" is a powerful plea for guidance and salvation, expressing the feelings of desperation and hopelessness that many people experience in their lives, and the deep longing for a mentor or guide to show them the way.