The Northern Pikes began their career in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in early 1… Read Full Bio ↴The Northern Pikes began their career in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in early 1984. Over the next two years, the band recorded and released the independent EPs 'The Northern Pikes' and 'Scene In North America' with producer and pal Mitch Barnett. Both were recorded and mixed at Studio West in Saskatoon. Sharing a taste for jangly, tuneful songs mixing alternative rock with power pop and indie music, the original lineup was spawned from the ashes of three local groups, 'The Idols', 'Doris Daye', and '17 Envelope', and consisted of Jay Semko, Merl Bryck, Bryan Potvin and Glen Hollingshead, who left the band in 1985.

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.

What It's Really About
The Northern Pikes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Smoother than skin like a wave on the ocean
We glide along
Sing out of tune, but we know how the words go
On and on and ...
Feels like the summer
With the grass on the ground, that summery sound
I think I found someone
Now I guess I'll find out what love's really about

Suntans and lawnchairs and children with bathing suits
Playing tag
I sit with a drink and a book in my lap
The day just drags on ...

Why should I worry
It'll all come to me in good times and good company
The heart is a strong thing
Now I guess I'll find out what strong's really about
I guess I'll find out what love's really about

I never planned it like this
All I wanted was one little kiss, just one little kiss

Who broke the bell in St. Andrew's Cathedral
Will it still ring, (will it still)
Bats in the belfry and flowers in the hair of the
Sweet young virgins

We make our decisions
We'll walk on the coals with the tenderest souls
Feels like I love you

Now I guess I'll find out what love's really about

Overall Meaning

The Northern Pikes's song "What It's Really About" is a love song that talks about the beauty of summer and how summer love feels like. The first stanza talks about how smooth and easy love can feel when it's right. The simile used compares a smooth love to a wave on the ocean. The singer sings out of tune with his lover, but they know the words by heart and continue on. It's a feeling of comfort and security that reminds the singer of summer, accompanied by the greenery and warm air. He finds someone he thinks he loves, but he's not sure what love's really about, so he wonders if it's love he's feeling.

The second stanza paints a picture of a relaxed and laid-back summer day, with people enjoying the sun, children playing, and the singer sipping a drink and reading a book. He's not worrying about anything as everything will come to him in good times and good company. The singer views the heart as a strong thing, one that will guide him through love and discovery of himself (what strong is really about.) The singer then sings about how he never planned to love, but it all started with one kiss.

The third and final stanza is slightly more abstract than the previous two, but it still maintains a summer theme. The singer talks about St. Andrew's Cathedral and wonders if the bell still rings. Bats in the belfry and flowers in the hair of sweet young virgins are elements used to conjure up the imagery of youth and freedom. The singer concludes that he and his lover are responsible for their decisions, and they will walk on the coals with the tenderest of souls. He concludes that he thinks he loves his partner, and he's ready to find out what love is really about.

Line by Line Meaning

Smoother than skin like a wave on the ocean
We move together seamlessly like the ebb and flow of ocean waves.

We glide along
Our relationship is easy and effortless.

Sing out of tune, but we know how the words go On and on and ...
We may not have everything perfectly in sync, but we know how to keep our relationship going strong.

Feels like the summer With the grass on the ground, that summery sound I think I found someone Now I guess I'll find out what love's really about
I feel like I am in the prime of my life, and with you, I think I have found love for the first time, and I will soon learn what it truly means.

Suntans and lawnchairs and children with bathing suits Playing tag I sit with a drink and a book in my lap The day just drags on ...
As I watch the world around me enjoying the sun and playing, I contemplate life with a book and a drink, and time seems to pass slowly when I am not near you.

Why should I worry It'll all come to me in good times and good company The heart is a strong thing Now I guess I'll find out what strong's really about I guess I'll find out what love's really about
I shouldn't worry about the future because I have you as my companion, and the heart can endure much hardship, and with you, I'll learn the true strength and meaning of our love.

I never planned it like this All I wanted was one little kiss, just one little kiss
I never thought I'd get to this point, but all I wanted at the start was one little kiss from you.

Who broke the bell in St. Andrew's Cathedral Will it still ring, (will it still) Bats in the belfry and flowers in the hair of the Sweet young virgins
As we contemplate the mysteries of the world, we ponder who could have broken the bell and whether it will still sound out. Meanwhile, life goes on around us, with young people partying and having fun.

We make our decisions We'll walk on the coals with the tenderest souls Feels like I love you Now I guess I'll find out what love's really about
We are in charge of our destiny, and we will walk through tough times together with our gentle natures. I feel like I love you, and with you, I will discover the true meaning of love.

Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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