The two families, the Watkinses and the Thiles, met after Sean Watkins and Chris Thile had mandolin lessons with the same music instructor, John Moore. Sara Watkins studied with Moore's bandmate, Dennis Caplinger. The band name came from a song by Byron Berline, who was Sara Watkins' fiddle instructor.
Nickel Creek's first performance was at That Pizza Place in Carlsbad, California in 1989 with Scott Thile, Chris's father, playing string bass. Sean Watkins was only twelve years old at the time. At the start Chris Thile played guitar and Sean Watkins played mandolin but later they decided to switch instruments. The band played many bluegrass festivals throughout the 1990s, and the band members were home-schooled to accommodate their tour schedule. Nickel Creek's first two albums were Little Cowpoke (1993) and Here to There (1997).
The group received two Grammy nominations: Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Instrumental for the song "Ode to a Butterfly". The trio was nominated at the CMA Awards for Best Vocal Group and the Horizon Award and were named one of the "Five Music Innovators of the Millennium" by TIME Magazine in May 2000. Nickel Creek's "The Lighthouse's Tale" video was nominated for a CMT "Flameworthy Video Award" for Group/Duo Video of the Year.
In 2002 the band released their fourth album, This Side, produced by Alison Krauss. It was a departure from their previous releases which were purely bluegrass. Although the core influence of bluegrass remained, other genres such as indie rock and folk rock were present in their music included cover songs Spit on a Stranger by Pavement, and Should've Known Better by Carrie Newcomer.
In 2005 the band released their fifth album, Why Should the Fire Die? with more rock and pop influences. The album debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard bluegrass chart.
In late summer 2006, via Billboard and their official website, Nickel Creek announced that at the end of the year they would no longer be recording as a group and their tour, scheduled through 2007, would be their last for an indefinite period of time so band members could expand their musical horizons.
The band had plans to record its final performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in November 2007 but the idea was later "scrapped".
The band released a new album in the spring of 2014. They also played a handful of live shows and festival dates, including a concert at the Ryman Auditorium, the last venue the band played when it played its last show.
Don't Fence Me In
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose
Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the Western skies
On my cayuse
Let me wander over yonder 'til I see the mountains rise
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
Gaze about the moon until I lose my senses
Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose
Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the Western skies
On my cayuse
Let me wander over yonder 'til I see the mountains rise
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
Gaze about the moon until I lose my senses
Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in
Don't fence me in
Don't you fence me in
The song "Don't Fence Me In" is an anthem to freedom, open space, and one's desire to wander without constraints. The song describes a person's longing to be free to roam around wide, open spaces, and enjoy life on their own terms. The repetitive phrase "Don't fence me in" emphasizes this message of wanting to be free and unencumbered.
The lyrics use vivid imagery of the Western plains to paint a picture of the idealized "wild west," with its wide-open spaces, clear skies, and impressive mountain ranges. The singer longs to be in this natural environment, where they can ride their horse and be immersed in nature without any limitations. Lines like "Let me be by myself in the evening breeze/ Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees" further emphasize this desire for solitude and a connection to nature.
At its heart, "Don't Fence Me In" is a song that celebrates individuality, freedom, and the majesty of nature. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, resonating with anyone who has ever felt the urge to break free from the constraints that society places on us. It is a song that captures the spirit of adventure and the longing for a simpler way of life that many of us still crave today.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't fence me in
I desire freedom and vast open spaces in order to explore and discover the world around me.
Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above
I yearn for land with a clear view of the night sky and the endless universe beyond.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
I crave the ability to ride freely through the expansive countryside that I hold so dear to my heart.
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
I want to be alone with the quiet and peaceful breeze of the evening, to reflect and contemplate on my own existence.
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
I want to take in the calming sound of the rustling cottonwood trees, a reminder of the beauty and serenity of nature.
Send me off forever but I ask you please
If I must leave, I plead with you to give me the freedom to do so without restraint.
Just turn me loose
I simply request to be released from all forms of control, so I can embark on my own path.
Let me straddle my old saddle underneath the Western skies
I want to climb onto my own personal mode of transportation and ride off into the majestic sunset with confidence and independence.
On my cayuse
My beloved steed and loyal companion, who will carry me through life's adventures.
Let me wander over yonder 'til I see the mountains rise
I dream of wandering aimlessly in search of new horizons, up until the moment where I can glimpse the breathtaking view of towering mountains in the distance.
I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
I have an insatiable curiosity to explore the West, to discover everything it has to offer, starting from the highest point where the land meets the sky.
Gaze about the moon until I lose my senses
I yearn to gaze upon the moon's wondrous beauty for so long that my mind is lost in a state of wonder and awe.
Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Any form of confinement or restriction goes against my only desire for absolute freedom and the ability to live life to the fullest.
Don't you fence me in
I plead with you not to restrict my opportunities for exploration and independence, as I am fully aware of my own life's purpose and direction.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind