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.
Believe
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open loving arms and open loving legs
Homeless in Winnipeg
Completely caught me off guard
Safely loved like two splints on a broken leg
Would ya hate to see me beg
Once upon a time avec ma chérie
I never twisted knives
I always would survive
And I'll ask myself why
No I can't believe it's true
After three million fights
I'm still in love with you
I can't believe it's dwindled away
To a forced "hello.. ya I'll see you someday"
Let me be your tornado
Like I did that summer day
I swept you off your feet
Dust never tasted so sweet
Completely caught you off guard
You're walking west and feeling east
I'm lonely at your feet
So lonely at your feet
Once upon a time avec ma chérie
I never questioned life
I never twisted knives
I always would survive
And I'll ask myself why
No I can't believe it's true
After three million fights
I'm still in love with you
I can't believe it's dwindled away
To a forced "hello.. ya I'll see you someday"
We will look back to the evidence
And blatant testimony
We will react... ooh, ooh
And I'll ask myself why
No I can't believe it's true
After three million fights
I'm still in love with you
I can't believe it's dwindled away
To a forced "hello.. ya I'll see you someday"
I can't believe
the emotions conveyed in The Northern Pikes's song "Believe". The lyrics describe the ups and downs of a relationship, especially when one partner is going through depression. The line "Once depression walked through my door" is such a powerful opener because it introduces the idea that sometimes we don't have control over what comes into our lives, but it's important to embrace it with open arms and try to make the best of it. The particular use of "open loving arms and open loving legs" is also an interesting choice because it suggests that the singer is trying to be there for their partner both emotionally and physically.
The following lines are equally poignant, as they refer to the homeless situation in Winnipeg. It's clear that the singer is caught off guard by this unexpected situation and may feel powerless to help. However, they still want to be there for their partner and offer them safety, even if it's just two splints on a broken leg. The lyric "Would ya hate to see me beg" is quite powerful and shows the singer's vulnerability in this situation.
The rest of the song discusses the relationship's ups and downs, how it's changed over time, and yet, despite the many fights they've had, the singer is still in love with their partner. They long for the times when they never questioned life, and they didn't have to twist knives to survive. However, they realize that things have dwindled away to a forced "hello.. ya I'll see you someday", which is a sad commentary on how relationships can evolve over time. The singer still longs to be their partner's tornado, to sweep them off their feet like they did that summer day, but it's uncertain if that's still possible. The final lines "I'm lonely at your feet, so lonely at your feet" really drive home the idea of feeling isolated and disconnected from someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Once depression walked through my door
I experienced depression unexpectedly
Open loving arms and open loving legs
I was vulnerable and willing to love
Homeless in Winnipeg
I felt lost and alone in a place that should have felt familiar
Completely caught me off guard
I was unprepared and surprised by the situation
Safely loved like two splints on a broken leg
Our love provided safety and stability in a difficult time
Would ya hate to see me beg
I don't want to appear desperate or needy
Once upon a time avec ma chérie
In the past, I was with my beloved
I never questioned life
I had a sense of certainty about my existence
I never twisted knives
I never intentionally harmed others or myself
I always would survive
I had confidence in my ability to overcome challenges
And I'll ask myself why
I'll wonder about the reasons behind my feelings
No I can't believe it's true
I'm surprised that things have turned out this way
After three million fights
We've been through many arguments and struggles
I'm still in love with you
Despite everything, my feelings for you remain strong
I can't believe it's dwindled away
Our connection has diminished over time
To a forced 'hello.. ya I'll see you someday'
Our interactions have become insincere and awkward
Let me be your tornado
I want to shake things up and bring excitement to our relationship
Like I did that summer day
I want to recreate the passionate feelings we once had
I swept you off your feet
I made you feel special and loved
Dust never tasted so sweet
Even the most insignificant moments between us felt meaningful
You're walking west and feeling east
You're emotionally conflicted and uncertain
I'm lonely at your feet
I feel isolated and desperate for your attention
We will look back to the evidence
We'll reflect on the proof of our past love
And blatant testimony
The clear and tangible memories of our relationship
We will react... ooh, ooh
Our emotions will prompt us to take action
I can't believe
I'm shocked and overwhelmed by my emotions
Contributed by Adam Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nana J
I recently found all my fathers old casettes, played them and found a new favorite band <3
dean robert99
'I can't believe... it's dwindled away... to a forced hello... I'll see you some day' - whew. In '93 those words just crushed me and resonated true.. But life spins on. To hear it now all these years later brings that time back like a kick in the nards. I've truly under appreciated this band, this song, and this album. Thanks NP.
truebeatlepeople
fabulous song by Bryan, incredible lyrics that pretty much sum up my breakup back in late '93.... when a song can resonate with anothers personal experience and help them relate and heal, then that song is a true gift..... and this one definatly is all of that. Thanks Bryan.
babybug80
Love, love, love these wonderful men. Not just their music but their beautiful souls!! Such a pleasure to see them and say Hi!
Dave Kay
Imo their best song - well done, lads. Takes me back!
D&L
I was at that concert in Winnipeg to during the Ex. It was a good show.
Scott Bayley
Weird how this song sounds more eighties than anything they released in the 80s.
Ronan Kelly
This takes me back :)
Kate Lum Book Readings: Stories for Kids
wow, beautiful. the song, too.... ;)
James Grady
band was so good