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.
You Sold the Farm
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw you looking my way
Am I such a different man
Because I have a different plan than you
What will you do
To make it easier
I saw you in a place of sin
With someone that you hardly know again
Over and over I toss and I turn
Over and over and over
Stare at the wall
'Till things pile up into a bigger ball
Than what they were
You're never sure until something occurs
Commit a crime
And draw a line between the things you want
And things you need
Nothing grows until you plant the seed
Over and over I toss and I turn
Over and over and over
I'm leaving tomorrow, but I will return
Over and over and over
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm coming home
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm alone
You find a friend
Who's been there all along
Tends the chores one by one
Not much said until the work is done
Over and over I toss and I turn
Over and over and over
I'm leaving tomorrow, but I will return
Over and over and over
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm coming home
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm alone
The Northern Pikes's song "You Sold the Farm" is a profound and introspective piece of music that deals with themes of loss, regret, and the search for personal identity. The lyrics suggest that the singer has taken a different path in life from those around him, and that he feels isolated because of it. He asks what others will do to help him make it easier to live with his choices. He also observes that people who commit sins often do it with people they hardly know, emphasizing the point that we all have different ways of coping with life.
The lyrics continue to reflect on the reality of coping with life, saying that sometimes one just has to stare at the wall until things pile up into a bigger ball than they were before. The singer contemplates the need for both material and emotional fulfillment in life, and how planting seeds are necessary for growth. The lyrics also suggest that the singer has been away from home, probably for work, and is now returning.
After the first verse, the chorus comes in with a melancholic melody repeating the line: "Over and over I toss and I turn". This line demonstrates the singer's awareness of his inner struggle and how it affects his sleep patterns. In the next verse, the song recognizes how the choices he's made in his life have negatively affected his relationships, as he's now alone. Contrasted with this is the depiction of a reliable friend who helps him with his chores and returns after the work is done, not expecting much said because there's trust.
Line by Line Meaning
What's that you say?
What are you telling me?
I saw you looking my way
I noticed that you were looking towards me
Am I such a different man
Because I have a different plan than you
Is there a significant difference in our personalities since I have an alternate objective?
What will you do
To make it easier
What steps will you take to ease the situation?
I saw you in a place of sin
With someone that you hardly know again
I witnessed you in a questionable environment with someone unfamiliar—a recurring scenario.
Over and over I toss and I turn
Over and over and over
Repeatedly, I lay awake in bed, unable to sleep.
Stare at the wall
'Till things pile up into a bigger ball
Than what they were
You're never sure until something occurs
I gaze at the wall and expand on thoughts until they become more significant. One cannot be certain until an event takes place.
Commit a crime
And draw a line between the things you want
And things you need
Nothing grows until you plant the seed
Breaking the law can separate your desires and requirements. Nothing develops until effort is put in.
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm coming home
You sold the farm, you sold the farm
Now I'm alone
You sold our farm, making me return home by myself.
You find a friend
Who's been there all along
Tends the chores one by one
Not much said until the work is done
Discover a companion who's been present all along, completing the daily work. Little communication occurs until duties are complete.
Over and over I toss and I turn
Over and over and over
I'm leaving tomorrow, but I will return
Over and over and over
Repeatedly, I sleep uneasily while planning to depart tomorrow, yet knowing that I'll return.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.