Early career
He was born Robin Peter Smith in Swanley, Kent and attended Swanley Secondary Modern School. He learned guitar, and left school in 1954 to become an assistant cinema projectionist. In 1956, he gave his first live performance, as a member of The Hard Travellers. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was a member of The Country Gentlemen, Beat Formula Three, and Peter & The Wolves. In 1964, as a member of Peter & The Wolves, St. Peters made his first commercial recording.
Decca label
St. Peters was signed to Decca Records in 1965. His first two singles on this record label, "Invecto Show" and "At This Moment", proved unsuccessful on the charts. He made two television appearances in England in February of that year, featuring in the shows Scene At 6.30 and Ready Steady Go!
In 1966, St. Peters' career finally yielded a Top 10 hit in the UK Singles Chart, when "You Were On My Mind" entered the listing, eventually hitting #2. The single was then released in the U.S. on the Philadelphia-based Jamie label, but it did not chart at first. However, his fourth release, "The Pied Piper", became forever known as his signature song, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #5 in the UK. No subsequent release would ever match the success of "The Pied Piper", although the latter's success helped boost "You Were On My Mind" into the U.S. Top 40.
In 1967, St. Peters released his first LP, Follow Me, which was followed by his first EP, Almost Persuaded. But by 1970, he was dropped by Decca.
Square label
Later in 1970, he was signed to Square Records. Under this new record deal, St. Peters released a second LP, Simply, that year. Later still they released his first cassette, The Gospel Tape, in 1986, and a second cassette, New Tracks on Old Lines in 1990. His third cassette, Night Sessions, Vol. 1 was released in 1993.
Several CDs also came from this record deal, including Follow Me in 1991, The Anthology in 1996, Night Sessions, Vol. 1 in 1998, The Gospel Tape in 1999, and, finally, Songs From The Attic in 2000.
Personal life
From 1969 to 1974, St. Peters was married to his wife named Collette. The marriage produced a daughter, Samantha, and a son, Lee.
On 1 January 1995, at the age of 56, he suffered a major stroke. His music career was severely weakened by this, and in 2001, he announced his retirement from the music industry. He was hospitalized several times with pneumonia since 2003.
He died on 8 June 2010, after a long illness, at the age of 71.
The Pied Piper
Crispian St. Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your masquerading, and you
Always contemplating what to do
In case heaven has found you
Can't you see
That it's all around you
So follow me
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Girl
Don't be scared to move
Hey, babe
What are you tryin' to prove
It ain't true
That your life has kicked you
It's your mind
And that's all that's trickin' you
So step in line
Hey, com on babe
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Hey, com on babe
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Follow me
Come on, babe
Trust in me
Come on, babe
Can't you see
Come on, babe
Follow me
I'm the Pied Piper
The lyrics of Crispian St. Peters's song The Pied Piper talk about a character called the Pied Piper who encourages a girl to follow him. The song is metaphorical and speaks about life and the choices one makes. The girl in the song is unsure of what she wants from life and is hesitant in following the Pied Piper. He tells her that she shouldn't be scared of moving forward and taking risks, and that her mind is the only thing that's holding her back. The Pied Piper is like a guide who promises to show the girl where life can take her if she trusts him.
The song's lyrics suggest that the Pied Piper is charismatic and has a good understanding of life. He believes that life is all around us and that we need to experience it to the fullest. He encourages the girl to trust him and follow him, and he promises to show her the way. The song's message is about taking chances and living life to the fullest.
Overall, Crispian St. Peters's song The Pied Piper is about making the most of life and not being afraid of taking risks. The Pied Piper is a symbol of a guide who can show us the way if we trust him. The song is meant to inspire listeners to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
You
Addressing the audience who is hesitant to follow the singer
With your masquerading, and you
Hiding behind a facade that does not represent your true self
Always contemplating what to do
Constantly indecisive and uncertain about your actions
In case heaven has found you
Afraid that your actions will not be acceptable to a higher power
Can't you see
Implying that the solution is evident and within reach
That it's all around you
The solution is present in your immediate surroundings and within yourself
So follow me
Encouraging the audience to follow the singer towards the solution
Hey, com on babe
Addressing the audience in a casual, friendly manner
I'm the Pied Piper
Presenting oneself as a guide or leader
And I'll show you where it's at
Promising to reveal the solution or path to follow
Come on, babe
Encouraging the audience to take action
Can't you see
Reiterating that the solution is clear and within reach
Trust in me
Establishing a level of trust between the singer and the audience
Girl
Addressing a female audience member
Don't be scared to move
Encouraging the audience member to take action despite fear
What are you tryin' to prove
Questioning the audience member's motives for inaction
It ain't true
Disproving the audience member's negative beliefs or thoughts
That your life has kicked you
Implying that external factors are not the cause of the audience member's inaction or unhappiness
It's your mind
Asserting that the audience member's thoughts and beliefs are the true impediment
And that's all that's trickin' you
Suggesting that the solution lies in changing one's thought patterns or beliefs
So step in line
Encouraging the audience member to follow the artist's lead
Follow me
Reiterating the invitation to follow the artist
I'm the Pied Piper
Restating the singer's role as a guide or leader
And I'll show you where it's at
Reiterating the promise to reveal the solution or path to follow
Come on, babe
Reiterating the encouragement to take action
Trust in me
Reiterating the establishment of trust between the singer and the audience
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ART KORNFELD, STEVE DUBOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
Time
Like a snowball
Rolling downhill
The farther( further?) it goes
The faster it goes.
Thank God for Jesus, and eternal life.
This is the first stepping stone
The GR8 mid 60’s to 1972 music
in our latter days of this life
make our musical memories
Magical. CB
@ThePossumfan
You
With your masquerading, and you
Always contemplating what to do
In case heaven has found you
Can't you see
That it's all around you
So follow me
Hey, com on babe
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Girl
Don't be scared to move
Hey, babe
What are you tryin' to prove
It ain't true
That your life has kicked you
It's your mind
And that's all that's trickin' you
So step in line
Hey, com on babe
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Hey, com on babe
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
Follow me, I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Can't you see
I'm the Pied Piper
Trust in me
I'm the Pied Piper
And I'll show you where it's at
Come on, babe
Follow me
Come on, babe
Trust in me
Come on, babe
Can't you see
Come on, babe
Follow me
I'm the Pied Piper
@stz17
Crispian was a very good friend of my grandad. Lovely man. Listening in honour of my grandad tonight. 💚
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
God Bless you AND the both of them. CB
@Annieisfreejustlikebutterflies
Тоа значи дека знаете што значи песната, а исто така и јас.
Zelfs kinderen kunnen als slecht worden bestempeld. Nesvarbu, kokios jūs manote, kad žiurkės pasaulyje yra, jei jos nemėgsta angelų, tikrų. If you knew who my father is you would be glad for what was written. Hans Christian Anderson stories are good too.
@amandashare1281
I was 11 when this was released and only appreciated this song in later years, I am so glad I was bought up with 60's and 70's music, best years for music, period!!
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
You couldn’t be MORE correct. CB
@critter7052
Thanks for posting this 1960s classic song!
@JimEd.Huston
Crispian as well as being a great singer was also a great song writer & producer, who went to the top but got a raw deal with bad management. He was a dignified character, we were great buddies in latter years, I covered a few of his songs, his material never grew old. Rest in peace Crispian...
@Kismet1955
At that time of my life ( teenager) I didn't even knew what the lyrics where about. (sorry bad English) Operation Pied Piper in WW2...hundredsofthousends children were evacuated in England! Why did they call a militaary operation: Operation Pied Piper... How did they manage that in those days without smartphones, evacuate 1,5 million people? Search this on YT and watch (from about 2 hours) Christmas Unveiled: Pied Piper / Templars Secret / Saturn's Workshop / Giants stealing children...
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
😢. CB
@dove4409
Kommt mir ebenso vor, bin mittlerweile 70 Jahre.