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.
Am I In Your Way
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A place you’ve maybe called your home
And so simplified you really try to muster up a smile
But only loneliness is shown
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
Our own eternal love is all but nearly dead
A trace of care just can’t be found
And it occurs to me we’re in between this life and one we led
A giant leap from cloud to ground
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
Too late for fools like us, too late
You and I will dance, can we waltz in a straight line
These photographs of faces deep within my heart
Are all yellow, frayed and cracked and old
And to my surprise I realize that everything has changed
So easily your picture folds
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
Am I in your way
The Northern Pikes's song "Am I in Your Way" is a song that reflects on the feeling of being stuck in a place where nothing ever changes, and where the people you once loved seem to have moved on. The lyrics are filled with nostalgia, regret, and a sense of longing for something that once was. The opening verse describes this feeling of isolation and loneliness, as the singer reflects on a place he used to call home. He remembers how he tried to smile and pretend everything was okay, but deep down he felt nothing but loneliness.
The chorus, "Am I in your way," is repeated throughout the song, and seems to reflect the singer's fear that he has become a burden to those he once loved. He wonders if he is still wanted, still needed, or if his presence is simply getting in the way of their lives. As the song progresses, the singer realizes that the love he once had with someone is dead, and he is left feeling lost and alone. He reflects on the memories he has, the photographs of faces deep within his heart, but realizes that everything has changed.
In the final verse, the singer admits that it might be too late for him and the person he once loved. They are both fools, he says, and perhaps they missed their chance at happiness. But despite this, he still holds out hope that they can find a way to be together, to dance, even if it's not in a straight line. The song leaves the listener with a sense of wistfulness, a yearning for a past that can never be regained.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya ever known a place where nothing ever changed
Have you ever experienced a place that seems to be stuck in time, where nothing seems to progress or evolve?
A place you’ve maybe called your home
Perhaps this place you've experienced is somewhere you have referred to as your home.
And so simplified you really try to muster up a smile
You try to force a smile despite feeling down, partly due to the surroundings that never change.
But only loneliness is shown
The facade of a smile is not enough to hide the fact that you feel lonely and isolated in such an environment.
Our own eternal love is all but nearly dead
The relationship you have with your partner has almost completely deteriorated, causing a seemingly unfixable rift in your connection.
A trace of care just can’t be found
You can't seem to find any remaining care or affection in your partner towards you.
And it occurs to me we’re in between this life and one we led
You've come to a realization that you and your partner are in a transitional phase between how things used to be and how they are now.
A giant leap from cloud to ground
The change in your relationship feels like a huge and sudden shift, like jumping from a dream-like world to a harsh reality.
Too late for fools like us, too late
It's far too late for people like you and your partner, who have made irreparable mistakes and are now hopeless to salvage the remnants of what was once a beautiful relationship.
You and I will dance, can we waltz in a straight line
Despite the grim circumstances, you and your partner must try to cling to that last shred of hope and make things work, no matter how difficult it may seem.
These photographs of faces deep within my heart
You are metaphorically holding on to cherished memories of loved ones and experiences that impacted you deeply.
Are all yellow, frayed and cracked and old
However, these memories are now physically and metaphorically old and worn out, a shell of what they once were.
And to my surprise I realize that everything has changed
You've come to a sudden epiphany that things are not as they seem and that everything has changed.
So easily your picture folds
Your past relationship, which you held very dear, has crumbled away so easily and unexpectedly, as if it was made of paper that could easily fold.
Am I in your way
You are pondering if your presence is causing your partner to inner conflict, preventing them from moving on and healing from the relationship's damage.
Am I in your way
You're beginning to feel like you might be impeding your partner's life, holding them back from true happiness and growth.
Am I in your way
You are questioning whether your partner still needs you, or if you are just a hindrance in their life.
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ken Johnson
These guys weren't a one hit wonder. They had several tunes that were radio regulars if you lived near the Canadian border. "Things I do for Money" is still played from time to time. Wish I could have seen them play live.
toborobo
I spent a lot of time in Canada in the summer of 1990 and listened to a lot of local radio. This was one of my favorites from that time. Thanks for the memories
WALTKRIEG
Canadian music is very good !
VelociPat
Love this vid! Another great song by a great Canadian band!
Champ675
This one's for sure a classic!
FMP1970
Unforgetable song and video! Nice to see it again.
Richard Herbert
I always have loved these guys too. I heard this song on the radio before CBC broadcast a live NP session that I recorded on a BETA tape a Long Time Ago. Since then, I've had the indignity of running into a similar woman, and this has become somewhat of a theme song. Gotta love the Northern Pikes.
yuka2nao
my English teacher introduced this song to my class today when we analyzed it for poetic elements :D great song!
KittyKat2151
this is when music was still good .. and this song is so fitting i had this song sung to me once ..lol
matcraizy
love this song