1. … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists who recorded as The Sandpipers.
1. The Sandpipers were a U.S. pop/folk-rock group.
Founding members Jim Brady, Mike Piano, and Richard Shoff first performed together in the Mitchell Boys Choir, before deciding to go it alone as 'The Four Seasons'. It was quickly pointed out to them that a group of that name already existed in New York, and they changed their name to The Grads. Although they didn't set the charts on fire with their early recordings, they performed well enough to secure a residency in a Lake Tahoe nightclub, where a friend brought them to the attention of trumpet playing A&M Records boss, Herb Alpert. Alpert was impressed enough to give The Grads a shot, but after a couple of singles without success the group agreed upon a name change to The Sandpipers, apparently unaware that a girl trio in Florida was already using that name. After the name change, their producer, Tommy LiPuma, recommended they record the Cuban song "Guantanamera", and the group finally had their first hit.
Although sidelined by the original trio for reasons which may never become clear, Pamela Ramcier had now become an integral part of The Sandpipers' sound. Her lyricless vocals were used much like a second string section, adding what several reviewers described as an "ethereal" quality to The Sandpipers' sound.
"Guantanamera" charted in the U.S. in September 1966, and in the U.K. the following month, and remains the group's biggest hit. They had many lesser chart entries, including a 'Guantanamera-ised' cover version of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", and songs from the films The Sterile Cuckoo and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Having not had a hit in the previous five years, The Sandpipers finally broke up in 1975.
2. The Sandpipers was a quartet (sometimes The Golden Sandpipers) - Mike Stewart, Ralph Nyland, Dick Byron and Bob Miller - who sang a lot of material for children with Golden Records. This included recording the Mighty Mouse theme - perhaps the original (though on at least some 78 vinyl it's credited to The Terrytooners, Mitch Miller and Orchestra), but in any case likely the version that is now well known.
3. A female trio that recorded in the 1960s. They are most famous for having the Allman Joys as a backing band before their own success.
The Drifter
The Sandpipers Lyrics
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Nothin' new, I felt it before
Like a voice of a hunger inside of me
Cryin' out, "There's got to be more"
I put my faith in the arms of an open road
And you can come along if you choose
Never been to sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do but give in to the drifter
There's a drifter in me
Though I've tried it I'm just not a settlеr
And nine to five don't make it with mе
Why deny it? It makes me feel better
To come alive and prove that I'm free
I wear no chains and I carry no heavy load
(Heavy load)
So much to gain and nothing to lose
(Nothing to lose)
'Cause there's places that I've
Never been to sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do but give in to the drifter
There's a drifter in me
Places that I've never been to
Sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do but give in to the drifter
There's a drifter in me
Places that I've never been to
Sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do but give in to
The song "The Drifter" by The Sandpipers speaks to the restless and adventurous spirit within the singer. The first verse captures the recurring feeling of longing and dissatisfaction. The singer has experienced this feeling previously, but it persists and becomes like a hunger, prompting the question of whether there is more to life. This internal voice calls for something different, something beyond the mundane.
In the second verse, the singer puts their faith in the open road, symbolizing a life of constant movement and exploration. The invitation for others to join suggests a desire for companionship in this journey. The singer acknowledges that there are places they have never been and sunsets to be experienced. They understand that there is not much they can do but surrender to the free-spirited nature within them, the "drifter."
The third verse emphasizes the singer's resistance to settling down and conforming to a traditional nine-to-five lifestyle. They recognize that such a life does not fulfill them and deny themselves this unfulfilling path. Instead, they feel better by embracing their true self and proving their freedom through a life of their choosing.
The chorus repeats the idea of unexplored places and sunsets to be ridden into, suggesting that the world is full of unseen beauty and experiences waiting to be discovered. The singer accepts that there may be limitations to what they can do but ultimately gives in to their inherent desire to wander and embrace their drifting nature.
Overall, "The Drifter" celebrates the longing for adventure and the rejection of a conventional life. It speaks to the search for meaning beyond the ordinary, the call to explore new places, and the affirmation of personal freedom. The song invites listeners to embrace their inner wanderer and to let go of societal expectations in favor of a life of discovery and self-expression.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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