The Pioneers were formed in 1962 by brothers Sydney and Derrick Crooks, and their friend Winston Hewitt. Their early recordings "Good Nanny" and "I'll Never Come Running Back to You" were self-produced at the Treasure Isle studio using money lent to the Crooks brothers by their mother and appeared on Ken Lack's Caltone label.
Several other singles followed, none of them hits, before Hewitt immigrated to Canada in 1966. Hewitt was replaced for around a year by former Heptone Glen Adams.
The Pioneers' early singles were not successful, and Sydney began promoting concerts, while Derrick took up a job with the Alcoa bauxite company. The group broke up in mid-1967.
Sydney began working at Joe Gibbs' record shop, and through Gibbs, returned to recording. At his first session (to record "Give Me Little Loving"), with the other members of The Pioneers gone, Crooks recruited Jackie Robinson, who he found outside the studio just before recording began. Crooks later said of the encounter:
"When I was about to voice the song I looked outside the studio and I saw a little boy sitting on a stone. I said 'Hey, come here man, you can sing?' He sang the harmony for 'Give Me Little Loving' and his name was Jackie Robinson. After that I said to him 'You are one of the Pioneers from today' and he became the lead singer of the Pioneers".
The new version of The Pioneers enjoyed success with singles such as "Longshot" (a track written and produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry on Gibbs' behalf about a long-lived but unsuccessful racehorse), "Jackpot", "Catch the Beat", and "Pan Yu Machete" (an attack on Perry, who left Gibbs in 1968 to start working on his own productions). Crooks and Robinson also recorded as The Soul Mates in 1967. The group parted ways with Gibbs after an argument and moved on to work with Leslie Kong, the first recording for Kong being "Samfie Man", a song about a confidence trickster, which topped the Jamaican singles chart.
The classic trio, and the move to the UK: 1969-77
After a few further singles with Kong, the group recruited Desmond Dekker's half-brother George Agard to become a trio again. Sydney Crooks and his former Pioneer brother Derrick, along with Winston Bailey also recorded as The Slickers, recording "Nana" for producer Neremiah Reid. The Pioneers scored again with a sequel to "Long Shot", "Long Shot (Kick De Bucket)". When Kong heard that the horse had died (during its 203rd race), he insisted that the group write a song about it; The song was written and recorded quickly and became an instant hit. The band was popular in the United Kingdom, particularly among skinheads. "Long Shot Kick de Bucket" was a big hit in 1969, and led to a tour of the UK, during which they resolved to relocate there. Their cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" made #5 as a single in 1971.
The band did indeed move to the UK in 1970. Their third UK hit was "Give and Take", which reached #35 in January 1972.
In 1976 the Pioneers teamed up with Eddy Grant for an album for Mercury Records called Feel The Rhythm. Grant preferred to produce them as a soul group and they released a number of singles in that idiom, including "Broken Man", "Feel The Rhythm" and "My Good Friend James"
The change of style was a critical but not a commercial success and the band split up for a time in the late 1970s, with Crooks concentrating on production work and continuing with his brother in The Slickers, while Agard and Robinson continued to record, together on the album George & Jackie Sing, and separately.
The group reformed in the late 1970s and continued until 1989, when they split again to concentrate on separate careers. "Long Shot Kick de Bucket" was a minor UK chart hit again in 1980 upon re-issue. At the same time, "Long Shot Kick de Bucket" was covered by The Specials on their The Special AKA Live! EP, which was a UK #1 hit in 1980.
The Pioneers song "Starvation" was also covered on the "Starvation/Tam Tam Pour L'Ethiopie" charity single released in 1985, which peaked at UK number 33. The Pioneers shared lead vocal duties on the single with members of UB40, with backing vocals by General Public.
In 1999, the group reformed again and have continued to perform together since.
In 2005, the Pioneers performed at the Maranhão Roots Reggae Festival in São Luís, Brazil before 15,000 fans. The following year they appeared at the Godiva Festival in the War Memorial Park, Coventry, England. "Long Shot Kick de Bucket" was used in the 2008 film, The Wackness.
The Pioneers also had a number 42 UK hit in 1980 with a double-A-side release of "Long Shot Kick de Bucket" and Harry J All-Stars' "Liquidator", and a four-track EP consisting of tracks by The Pioneers, The Maytals, The Skatalites, and Jimmy Cliff reached number 86 in 1989.
The Pioneers track "Jackpot" was covered by The Beat on their 1980 album I Just Can't Stop It. Their song "Starvation" was also covered on the "Starvation/Tam Tam Pour L'Ethiopie" charity single released in 1985.
The Selecter covered "Time Hard" as "Everyday" on their 1980 album Too Much Pressure
Discography
Albums
Greetings From The Pioneers - 1968 - Amalgamated - produced by Joe Gibbs
Long Shot - 1969 - Trojan Records - produced by Leslie Kong
Battle Of The Giants - 1970 - Trojan Records - produced by Leslie Kong
Yeah - 1971 - Trojan Records
I Believe In Love - 1972 - Trojan Records
Freedom Feeling - 1973 - Trojan Records
I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door - 1974 - Trojan Records
Feel The Rhythm -1976 - Mercury Records
Roll On Muddy River - 1977 - Trojan Records
Pusher Man - 1978 - Squad Disco
Pusher Man - 1978 - Trojan Records (different tracks to the Squad Disco release)
What A Feeling - 1980 - Pioneer International
Reggae for Lovers - D.M.C.
Compilations
From The Beginning - 1969-1976 - WWS
Kick De Bucket - Rhino Records
Greatest Reggae Hits - 1979 - Trojan Records
More Reggae For Lovers Vol.4 - 1985 - Vista Sounds
Longshot Kick De Bucket (The Best Of) - 1997 - Trojan Records
Let Your Yeah Be Yeah (Anthology) - 2002 - Trojan Records
Give And Take: The Best of The Pioneers - 2003 - Trojan Records
Singles
"Good Nanny" (196?), Caltone
"I'll Never Come Running Back to You" (196?), Caltone
"Sometimes" (1965), Island (B-side to Theo Beckford's "Trench Town People")
"Good Nanny" (1966), Rio
"Too Late" (1966), Rio
"Give Me Little Loving" (1968), Amalgamated
"Long Shot" (1968), Amalgamated
"Jackpot" (1968), Amalgamated
"No Dope Me Pony" (1968), Amalgamated
"Tickle Me For Days" (1968), Amalgamated
"Catch the Beat" (1968), Amalgamated
"Sweet Dreams" (1968), Amalgamated
"Shake It Up" (1968), Blue Cat
"Give It To Me" (1968), Blue Cat
"Whip Them" (1968), Blue Cat
"Reggae Beat" (1968), Blue Cat
"I Love No Other Girl" (1968), Caltone
"Easy Come Easy Go" (1968), Pyramid
"Pee Pee Cluck Cluck" (1968), Pyramid
"Pan Yu Machete"
"Love Love Everyday" (1969), Amalgamated (B-dside to the Moon Boys' "Apollo 11")
"Don't You Know" (1969), Amalgamated
"Mama Look Deh" (1969), Amalgamated
"Who the Cap Fits" (1969), Amalgamated
"Alli Button" (1969), Amalgamated
"Long Shot Kick De Bucket" (1969), Trojan (UK #21)
"Black Bud" (1969), Trojan
"Poor Rameses" (1969), Trojan
"Samfie Man" (1970), Trojan
"Boss Festival" (1970), Trojan
"Driven Back" (1970), Trojan
"Simmer Down Quashie" (1970), Trojan
"Battle of the Giants" (1970), Trojan
"Money Day" (1970), Trojan
"I Need Your Sweet Inspiration" (1970), Trojan
"Starvation" (1971), Summit
"Get Ready" (1971), Summit
"Land of Complexion" (1971), Summit
"Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" (1971), Trojan (UK #5)
"Give and Take" (1971), Trojan (UK #35)
"I am a Believer" (1971), Hot Shot
"Story Book Children" (1972), Summit
"I Believe in Love" (1972), Trojan
"Roll Muddy River" (1972), Ifusion
"At the Discotheque" (197?), Trojan
"Bad to be Good" (1973), Trojan
"Do It Right" (197?), Trojan
"Hit Me With Music", (197?), Trojan
"Some Livin' Some Dyin'" (197?), Trojan
"Sweet Number One" (197?), Trojan
"World Needs Love" (197?), Trojan
"Honey Bee" (1974), Trojan
"Jamaica Jerk Off" (1974), Trojan
"Feel The Rhythm (of You and I)" (1976), Mercury
"Broken Man" (1976), Mercury
"My Good Friend James" (1977), Mercury
"Mother Ritty" (19??), Beverleys
"Rock My Soul" (1985), Creole
"Reggae in London City" (1986)
"Bad Company" (198?), Pioneer International
"Starvation" (198?), Boss
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (1973), Joe Gibbs
"Bring Back the Yester Years" (1997), Joe Gibbs
"Run Run Run" (19??), MGA
"Mettle" (19??), Trojan
Why Oh Why
The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel forever
I've such a hard time
Believing you're right
You put up a fight in there
Hoping the night would bear
An easy fix for
What hasn't happened yet
She doesn't know my name
Not that I'd complain
Tomorrow's easier
I'll feel her out
There's a vacancy
Voicing sound retrieve
Come today or a neighboring scene
Together we're free
He's trying to bring you down
At a loss for words as of now
I see your face and there's no sound
A dangerous game anyhow
The world speaks in dire terms
She's not that concerned
Let's get together
And forget all we've learned
Don't be straight with me
Part the seven seas
I'll dig even deeper for you
What else can I do
He's trying to bring you down
At a loss for words as of now
I've seen your face, this groovy sound
Followed me here somehow
I'm running circles around
The unfamiliar frown
You've taken on in order to
Dream away the afternoon
Don't you ever believe
Anything that you haven't seen
To be real
Don't you feel
Why don't you feel
The Pioneers' song "You Don" is a deeply introspective and emotional piece about the complexities of love and relationships. The opening lines, "When we're together, I feel forever, I've such a hard time believing you're right," express the singer's struggle with trusting their partner and their uncertain feelings about the future of their relationship. The line "Hoping the night would bear an easy fix for what hasn't happened yet" speaks to the singer's desire to resolve their issues and fears in the moment, while acknowledging that their problems have yet to fully materialize.
The second verse introduces a new perspective, with the singer describing another person who is trying to undermine the happiness and stability of their relationship. This person, who the singer refers to as "he," represents the external pressures and obstacles that can threaten a relationship. The line "A dangerous game anyhow" highlights the high stakes of trying to maintain a healthy and fulfilling love life.
The final verse urges the listener to trust their own experiences and intuition, rather than relying on external influences or societal expectations. The line "Don't you ever believe anything that you haven't seen to be real" speaks to the importance of trusting in one's own emotions and perceptions, rather than blindly following what others tell them to feel.
Line by Line Meaning
When we're together
I feel like time stops and we can be together forever
I feel forever
Being with you feels like it could last forever
I've such a hard time
It's difficult for me to believe in us and our relationship
Believing you're right
I'm not sure if you're telling the truth
You put up a fight in there
You resist sharing your feelings or showing vulnerability
Hoping the night would bear
I hoped that the night would bring us closer together
An easy fix for
A simple solution to our problems
What hasn't happened yet
I'm worried about what the future holds for us
What don't you get
Why can't you understand my concerns?
She doesn't know my name
I'm not important to her
Not that I'd complain
I'm willing to accept this reality
Tomorrow's easier
I'll try again tomorrow
I'll feel her out
I'll try to get to know her better
There's a vacancy
There's a missing piece in my life
Voicing sound retrieve
Attempting to communicate with someone who doesn't know me
Come today or a neighboring scene
I hope to meet her soon or in the future
Together we're free
We can be ourselves when we're together
He's trying to bring you down
Someone is trying to harm you emotionally
At a loss for words as of now
I don't know what to say or how to help
I see your face and there's no sound
You're hurting and I can feel it
A dangerous game anyhow
This situation is not safe for anyone involved
The world speaks in dire terms
The world is a scary and uncertain place
She's not that concerned
She doesn't seem to care about what's going on around us
Let's get together
We should spend more time together
And forget all we've learned
We should let loose and not worry about what we know
Don't be straight with me
Don't lie or sugarcoat things, be honest with me
Part the seven seas
Let's face any obstacles together, even if they seem impossibly far away
I'll dig even deeper for you
I'll do anything to help you, no matter how difficult
What else can I do
I want to help but I'm not sure how
I've seen your face, this groovy sound
I recognize the look on your face and it's unsettling
Followed me here somehow
I can't seem to escape this situation
I'm running circles around
I'm not sure what to do or how to help, so I'm just spinning my wheels
The unfamiliar frown
You're not acting like yourself and it's concerning
You've taken on in order to
You're behaving a certain way in order to cope with something
Dream away the afternoon
You're trying to forget your problems and distract yourself with daydreams
Don't you ever believe
Don't trust everything you hear or see
Anything that you haven't seen
Question everything and don't take things at face value
To be real
To be true and genuine
Don't you feel
Don't you experience or sense what's going on around us?
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Sam McDonell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RC 591
I first heard this back during my senior year of highschool during a Levi's jeans commercial. I don't know how to explain it but it really captured a sense of wonder snd excitement for me. It made me envision a future full of adventure you definitely don't see commercials like that anymore.
goatlingoose
"We take up the task eternal, and the burden, and the lesson". There are so many snippets that can move you. Great piece.
KADAM BARMAN 5B
So interesting and inspiring
maxaprile79
veramente bello
ROOK POETRY
my favorite poem
yi y
Everyone’s saying it’s a good poem, but I think it’s should be a sad poem. Cos when we think how the pioneers in those days feel…😅
Melody Jacobsen
Pioneers, oh pioneers.
Jehny Jess
Merci!
jesuslivesinmytoilet
Wow.
sodacann
I see a bunch of ww2 soldiers getting ready to land at normandy