The Pied Piper by Crispian St. Peters

Album: single release only (1966)

Charted: 5 4

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This was the biggest charting success of Crispian St. Peters, and one of only two Top-40 hits in his career - the other one was "You Were On My Mind," which made #36 in the US and #2 on the UK charts in 1967. He was born Robin Peter Smith.
St. Peters worked in the UK for various small local bands, including The Hard Travelers, The Country Gentlemen, Beat Formula Three, and Peter & The Wolves. An EMI publicist picked him up for the Decca Records label, and the rest if a very modest part of history.

According to biographies we've dug up, St. Peters spent more time boasting to the press than he did recording, sweepingly declaring himself of even mettle with the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Tom Jones. He also had psychological problems and ill health, succumbing to stroke in 1995. His charting career was over with by the time of Woodstock, but he did make a stab at a comeback in the '80s.
The title of course refers to an old fairy tale: The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It originates in Middle Ages Germany. A town hires a rat-catcher to rid their city of a rat infestation. Said ratter arrives in a costume that looks somewhat like a court jester and does his thing with a magic flute, which leads all the rats away. The town then refuses to pay him, so in anger he pulls his flute trick again, this time leading away the children. The Pied Piper, like many fairy tales, is embedded in modern culture in music, literature, and film the world over.
"The Pied Piper" also got covered a couple of times by Del Shannon and the Jamaican reggae duo Bob and Marcia.

Comments: 10

Jennifur SunWho played the flute on that song?
Wilhelm from SwedenOn the surface the song seems to be about a nice guy trying to help a love interest who struggles with existential worries and self-deception. On the other hand, he presents himself as the Pied Piper, an extremely dark character who brainwashes children with his flute and lures them to their death. My interpretation is that the singer represents a drug dealer, or maybe a not so thoughtful friend who introduces the vulnerable girl to drugs. The anti-drug theme seems a little bit early, but the Paul Revere hit Kicks also came out in 1966.
Max X from United StatesI remember this song from when I was a little kid. It was written in 1965, so I can't help but think its about a drug dealer talking to a new user. That was the zeitgeist. I remember well.
Irene from BcAlways loved this song.
John Shepard from UsapNice song about a young man helping his friend find what she is looking for.
Scorpio from UkThis song could always makes me think of child molesters. The lyrics give me the creeps.
Susan from NcA few years ago when I first looked for this video I found one probably made in Great Britain where Crispian is singing this song and he actually has kids following him. Don't know why that video disappeared. Has anyone else seen it?
AnonymousIt's a cool song and done nicely. I love Songfacts
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 5th 1966, "The Pied Piper" by Chrispian St. Peters entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #98; and on July 17th it peaked at #4 (for 3 weeks) and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 5 of those 13 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
The Changin' Times charted with the song one year earlier in 1965, their version reached #87 on the Top 100...
He had two other Top 100 records; a covered version of Phil Ochs' "Changes" (peaked at #57 in 1966) and a covered version of Ian & Sylvia's "You Were On My Mind" (reached #36 in 1967; and was also covered by the We Five in 1965, their version peaked at #3)...
R.I.P. Mr. St. Peters, born Robin Peter Smith, 1939 - 2010.
Martin from Fresno, CaI like it but the lyrics are self- Centered. He is telling the person he is interested to "Follow me" which implies he knows better than anyone else what is best and nobody is always right. Upbeat melody though that makes it easy to listen to.

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