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.
Straight Line
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is a roadmap from the B to the A
Someone to respect is so very hard to find
Along the highway I walk the straight line
Flesh and blood and hope
On the thin end of the rope
Love and truth and muscle and bones
On the shoulder throwing stones
Winter still becomes so cold - so cold
She stood beside me in a room
Where you do what you always wanted to
We walked like lovers into the hole in the roof
High wind blowin' on in
We wait for the rain
High day strummin' my highway
On the wheels of a slow movin' train
How long must I wait, how many days
How long will this take
I'm in a hurry and I must be movin' on
I've got a pistol in my pocket
It's loaded and ready to shoot
I've got a spoon full of these bullets
My God what a wonderful day
When your anger overwhelms you
And you just can't hold it back
Hit hard - hit with feeling
Because we love, because we love, because we love
Because we love, because we love
Woke up in a precious old town
I was hungry and I prayed to God above
I was handcuffed to my future
I could see it clearer than the daylight
Oh Los Angeles, home of the lost and the vigorous
Give me the strength I need
Give me a hero's welcome
Welcome back my son
I know that things don't change here
Hold me close now, hold me close
I'll keep you safe, safe and sorrowful
Flesh and blood and hope
On the thin end of the rope
Sparrow choir sings a roadside hymn
Sends you smiling - out on a limb
The Northern Pikes’s song “Straight Line” explores the journey of life, from birth to death. The lyrics emphasize the idea that life is a straight line with a clear map from point A to point B. The first verse talks about the difficulty of finding someone to admire and respect in life. As the song progresses, it stresses on the importance of love, truth, muscle, and bones as the key pillars in life.
The lyrics in the second verse describe a moment of intimacy between the singer and a woman. They both stand by each other in a room where “you do what you always wanted to.” This moment sets up the tone of the song, where despite the numerous challenges that come along the way, love and support help in navigating life’s journey.
Later in the song, the singer asks how long he must wait and how many days it would take to get there. He explains that he is in a hurry and needs to keep moving forward. He also talks about his anger and how it can sometimes overcome him. However, he chooses to channel that energy into something productive and hit hard, hit with feeling.
In conclusion, the song Straight Line can be seen as a commentary on life’s journey and the need for companionship and love throughout it. Though life may be tough, one must learn how to navigate through it to reach the final destination.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a straight line from the womb to the grave
Life is a journey that starts from birth and ends in death
There is a roadmap from the B to the A
In order to reach our goals, we need a plan that guides us from the starting point to the destination
Someone to respect is so very hard to find
It is difficult to come across individuals who command respect and admiration
Along the highway I walk the straight line
Metaphorically, this line represents the choices and decisions one makes in life while navigating through the hard times
Flesh and blood and hope
We are human beings made of flesh and bones, with the optimistic expectation of a better future
On the thin end of the rope
At the edge of our limits, where we can either succumb to defeat or persevere through adversity
Love and truth and muscle and bones
The four pillars of a strong and meaningful existence
On the shoulder throwing stones
When we face challenges, we either throw stones at our problems or brace ourselves and overcome them with determination and willpower
Now we're older and still old
Even though time passes by and we age, we still feel the same within ourselves
Winter still becomes so cold - so cold
Seasons may change, but some things remain constant and unchanged, such as the harshness of winter
She stood beside me in a room
This line describes a moment shared with a companion or partner, where they are by your side in a situation or place
Where you do what you always wanted to
In the presence of someone who you trust and feel comfortable with, you are free to do what you've always dreamed of
We walked like lovers into the hole in the roof
Two people walked into an unknown or dangerous situation like they were invincible and nothing could stop them
High wind blowin' on in
Nature's forces can disrupt and create chaos in our lives, whether we like it or not
We wait for the rain
This might be interpreted as a metaphor for waiting for something that is good or beneficial to come our way
High day strummin' my highway
A good day is one where everything flows smoothly, and the road ahead is clear and easy to navigate
On the wheels of a slow movin' train
Life moves at its own pace, whether we like it or not, and it's up to us to keep up with it
How long must I wait, how many days
Waiting can be frustrating, and this line expresses impatience when we cannot wait any longer
How long will this take
This line talks about the uncertainty of the future and the unknown
I'm in a hurry and I must be movin' on
At times, we need to leave things behind and move forward with life and its challenges
I've got a pistol in my pocket
This line could be seen as a metaphor for feeling invincible, having the tools and means necessary to overcome obstacles
It's loaded and ready to shoot
Being prepared and confident in the face of adversity
I've got a spoon full of these bullets
This line invokes a sense of abundant energy and resources, i.e., feeling unstoppable
My God what a wonderful day
Emphasizes a feeling of joy and positivity in a moment or situation
When your anger overwhelms you
This line describes feeling powerless and overwhelmed by your emotions and actions that result from them
And you just can't hold it back
Feeling out of control, where it's impossible to contain one's emotions or reactions
Hit hard - hit with feeling
This sentence could describe hitting someone physically, but it could also be interpreted as hitting hard with words, emotions or an action that has an impact
Because we love, because we love, because we love
This is a repeated phrase that emphasizes the importance of love in our lives
Woke up in a precious old town
Metaphorically, this line describes a waking moment of clarity, where one recognizes the beauty of nostalgic times and memories
I was hungry and I prayed to God above
This line implies searching for meaning and feeling unfulfilled, turning to a higher power for help or guidance
I was handcuffed to my future
This sentence could stand for feeling trapped and constrained by the future, one that seems inevitable and uninspiring
I could see it clearer than the daylight
This suggests that at times, the future can seem crystal clear and daunting, even more so than the present moment
Oh Los Angeles, home of the lost and the vigorous
This line represents the idea of the city being both a haven for people who feel lost, and a place for those with a purpose, or a direction in life
Give me the strength I need
Asking for the fortitude to persevere in the face of obstacles
Give me a hero's welcome
This line is somewhat ironic since it's an impossible expectation to have or request of life situations. Nevertheless, it implies seeking recognition and praise for one's accomplishment or journey
Welcome back my son
This line could represent welcome back to one's roots, hometown, or family. It could also be a metaphorical welcome to accompany one's arrival at a certain point in life
I know that things don't change here
This line could imply that the present reality will not change and that one needs to adapt to it or that change is difficult to achieve in certain situations
Hold me close now, hold me close
This encourages intimacy, romantic or platonic closeness, and security in difficult times
I'll keep you safe, safe and sorrowful
Promising comfort and support, even in the toughest of times, by standing beside someone through grief and sorrow.
Sparrow choir sings a roadside hymn
This line could represent the idea of finding beauty and joy in unexpected places, and perhaps, finding solace in small or insignificant moments
Sends you smiling - out on a limb
This implies feeling light-hearted and joyful despite encountering bumps in the road, and taking risks to find the way forward
Contributed by Bentley H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.