Numerous drummers came and went until June of 1986, when Don Schmid joined to make it a permanent quartet. With the help of friend and local booking agent Robert Hodgins, the band cut its teeth on the prairie bar circuit. The combination of exciting live performances, well-received indie albums, and the continuous stream of demos caught the ear of Doug Chappell, President of Virgin Records, Canada, and with the help of managers Fraser Hill and Ed Smeall, The Pikes signed to the label on December 19, 1986.
In January 1987, the band began sessions at Metal Works Studio in Toronto with producers Rick Hutt and Fraser Hill, and they finished mixing at McClear Place Studios for what would become its first Virgin album, titled 'Big Blue Sky'. It was released in June of '87 and featured the singles "Teenland" and "Things I Do For Money", introducing the band to a wider audience and expanding the touring range to all parts of Canada and the USA.
Spring of 1988 saw The Pikes at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY. and later in Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec for the recording and mixing of 'Secrets of the Alibi'. The sophomore album had a more "live off the floor" feel, and the heavy airplay of single "Wait For Me" and "Hopes Go Astray" kept the band on the road virtually non-stop across the continent until the summer of '89.
Up to this point, the primary singers and songwriters were Jay and Merl, with the exception of some group compositions and "Hopes" written by Bryan. The Pikes third album Snow In June saw the blossoming of Bryan as a singer and writer, most notably for the hit single "She Ain't Pretty". In addition the album featured other hits, "Girl With A Problem" and "Kiss Me You Fool", and featured a star-studded cast of additional musicians - Garth Hudson, Crystal Taliefero, John Sebastian and Stan Szelest, as well as mixes by acclaimed engineers Bob Clearmountain and Hugh Padgham. Recording again in Bearsville and mixing at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, the Pikes spent almost six months working on the album, considered by many to be their finest.
After almost two years of touring to support Snow In June, the band began work on Neptune in July of '92 at A&M Studios in LA with Rob Jaczko as co-producer. Subsequent sessions continued at Metal Works in Toronto and Blue Jay Studio in Boston. From start to finish the album took exactly two months to record, mix and master¤ the fastest turnaround since their indie days- Released in November, Neptune featured the keyboard work of Ross Nykiforuk, also a native of Saskatoon and an on-stage addition for the Snow In June tour. Also featured were two duets with Margo Timmins of "Cowboy Junkies", one of which¤ "Worlds Away"¤ made its way onto an episode of the TV series "Due South". The album featured the singles "Twister", "Believe" and "Everything", and in December saw the band fly from one end of Canada to the other on a whirlwind tour promoting the record.
The spring of '93 saw the last tour for The Pikes, and the fifth and final album gig, recorded live during concerts in Montreal and Toronto. It featured 13 songs and showcased the raw energy the band always exhibited onstage.
The Northern Pikes played their final concert of this first era on July 2, 1993 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Their unofficial final recording session took place July 9, '93 in Don's "Fresh Vibe North" studio where Jay, Bryan, Don and Ross laid down the original tracks for the theme song to "Due South" written by Jay and Bryan. Shortly afterwards, the band disbanded.
However, in 1999, the band reformed to build a Greatest Hits package, called "Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993." On the subsequent tour to promote this album, the band decided to release a live work in 2000 ("Live"). This was followed by a studio album in 2001 ("Truest Inspiration"), and another in 2003 ("It's a Good Life"). A collaborative album with fellow Canadian artist Les Stroud followed-up in 2008. They've continued to tour over the past few years.
Lonely House
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the train comes through, and I think about you
Will you make up your mind in the wintertime
Do you like it to snow, or do you like it to shine?
I have a friend - she lives out on the coast
She thinks it's quite nice, she thinks it's the most
But she wishes she had just a little more time
She wishes she had just a little more time
I want to know what is the reason
I want to know 'cause I think it's important
I want to know about you
In a lonely house
(With the windows open)
In a lonely house
(All the promises are broken)
In a lonely house
(With all the lights on)
In a lonely house
Say what you will - will you say the right thing?
Do what you do - would you do anything?
I'm not angry, I'm just insulted
I wish I had just a little more time
I want to know what is the reason
I want to know 'cause I think it's important
I want to know about you
In a lonely house
(With the windows open)
In a lonely house
(All the promises are broken)
In a lonely house
(With all the lights on)
In a lonely house
The lyrics of The Northern Pikes song Lonely House speak about a person who is no longer in a relationship, and is uncertain about the feelings of their former partner. The opening lines mention a train passing through the town at sunset, which triggers a reflection on the past relationship. The singer wonders if their ex-partner likes snow or sunshine, establishing a sense of disconnection between them. The reference to a friend who lives on the coast and wishes for more time expresses the idea that time is scarce, and that we often feel we don't have enough of it to work out our relationships.
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of the phrase "in a lonely house," emphasizes the sense of isolation the singer feels. The reference to broken promises and all the lights on conjures a vivid image of a desolate, empty house. The singer wants answers, wants to know the reason for the breakup, but is uncertain if their ex-partner will say the right thing if they meet. The final line, "I wish I had just a little more time," encapsulates the overall sense of regret that pervades the song.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun goes down in the little town
As the day comes to an end in this small town
And the train comes through, and I think about you
As a train passes by, my mind wanders to thoughts of you
Will you make up your mind in the wintertime
During the colder months, will you make a decision?
Do you like it to snow, or do you like it to shine?
Do you prefer a snowy or sunny climate?
I have a friend - she lives out on the coast
I know someone who resides on the coast
She thinks it's quite nice, she thinks it's the most
She finds it enjoyable and desirable
But she wishes she had just a little more time
She desires more time in this location
I want to know what is the reason
I would like to understand the rationale
I want to know 'cause I think it's important
I believe it is significant and worth knowing
I want to know about you
I am curious to learn more about you
In a lonely house
Within a solitary dwelling
(With the windows open)
(Where the windows are open)
(All the promises are broken)
(Where all the commitments have been broken)
(With all the lights on)
(Where all the lights are illuminated)
Say what you will - will you say the right thing?
Speak your mind - will your words be appropriate?
Do what you do - would you do anything?
Continue with your usual habits - would you alter them?
I'm not angry, I'm just insulted
I am not enraged, but I feel offended
I wish I had just a little more time
I long for additional time
In a lonely house
Within a solitary dwelling
(With the windows open)
(Where the windows are open)
(All the promises are broken)
(Where all the commitments have been broken)
(With all the lights on)
(Where all the lights are illuminated)
I want to know what is the reason
I would like to understand the rationale
I want to know 'cause I think it's important
I believe it is significant and worth knowing
I want to know about you
I am curious to learn more about you
In a lonely house
Within a solitary dwelling
(With the windows open)
(Where the windows are open)
(All the promises are broken)
(Where all the commitments have been broken)
(With all the lights on)
(Where all the lights are illuminated)
Contributed by Maya T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.