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.
Found Soul
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am sitting out of control
It's gonna kill me it's bringing me down
I am lost and cannot be found
But in the darkness I see a light
I draw closer full of fright
I see the Savior with arms open wide
It feels so good to know I'm free
From the sin that holds on to me
For I am a found soul
For I am a found soul
Now I'm no longer a slave
Of the sin that brings me pain
A lowly soldier that's what I am
Dressed in the armor of Jesus' name
It feels so good to know I'm free
From the sin that holds on to me
For I am a found soul
For I am a found
Well I am a found soul
Well I am a found soul
The lyrics of Nickel Creek's "Found Soul" provide a powerful message about the struggles of sin and the power of redemption. The beginning of the song paints a vivid picture of a person stuck in a place of darkness, losing their soul, and feeling out of control. However, there is a glimmer of hope as they begin to see a light and draw closer to see the Savior with open arms. Although weary and frightened, the singer walks towards the Savior and is ultimately freed from the grip of sin.
The song's message is a testament to the power of faith and the hope of redemption. The lyrics highlight the difference between living in the dark, lost and out of control, and the powerful release that comes from walking towards the light of redemption. The song's message is a powerful reminder that whatever struggles one may face, salvation is always within reach.
Overall, "Found Soul" is a compelling song about the struggle of sin and the uplifting hope of redemption. It encourages listeners to hold onto faith and know that they too can be a found soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the darkness and losing my soul
I am in a state of despair and my soul is slowly deteriorating
I am sitting out of control
I feel like I have lost all control over my life
It's gonna kill me it's bringing me down
The situation I am in will eventually destroy me and is weighing me down heavily
I am lost and cannot be found
I feel lost and unable to find my way back to the path of righteousness
But in the darkness I see a light
I am finally given hope in the most hopeless of situations
I draw closer full of fright
I approach this light with both anticipation and fear
I see the Savior with arms open wide
I finally see the way out of my darkness in the form of a welcoming Savior
I am weary but I walk to his side
Despite my exhaustion, I make the decision to follow the Savior and leave my troubles behind
It feels so good to know I'm free
I am finally free from the shackles of sin and despair
From the sin that holds on to me
The vices that once controlled me are no longer a burden
For I am a found soul
I have finally found my way back to the path of righteousness
Now I'm no longer a slave
I am no longer bound by the grips of sin
Of the sin that brings me pain
The sins that have caused me grief in the past are no longer a constant reminder of my missteps
A lowly soldier that's what I am
I am ready to embrace my role as a humble servant of God
Dressed in the armor of Jesus' name
I am enveloped by the protection of God and guided by the strength of Jesus Christ
Well I am a found soul
I take pride in the fact that I have found my way back to the light
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RENVOVR
I saw Nickel Creek 4 nights in one week (Bham, back to back nights at the Ryman and Chattanooga) a few weeks before Tiny Desk performance. She definitely sounds hoarse, which I think might have been just from singing too much (they had a very demanding early schedule and she sang lead on a lot more songs than she used to back in the day with Nickel Creek).
But, my take away from it is that she did a great job controlling her voice even when it might have not been 100%. She stayed away from trying to hit notes that she couldn't at the time and managed to stay in a good range. Mark of a true pro.
BTW, of those 4 shows I got to see (Bham was basically a "final rehearsal" show and the Ryman was the official beginning of the tour) the first night at the Ryman was absolutely magical (partially because the Ryman was the last show they did on the "So Long For Now" tour before they "retired")
After they're opener, "Rest of my Life," they got nearly 5 minute standing ovation. Every time Chris tried to introduce the next song he was drowned out. I was about 10 feet off stage from Sara and the ovation literally brought tears to her eyes.
I am a pretty jaded concert goer, but I can't think of a better show...and a better moment...that I have ever experienced. Such pure joy by the musicians and returned by the concert goers. Amazing.
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Garrett Watts
I watch this maybe once a month. Damn it is so good. Huge Chris Thile Stan here.
Zapfish
same bro. Chris Thile is like church
The Indy Space
There's a country called Chris-Thile-stan..?
Pierce Trey
Is it hard to get a Visa to ChrisThileStan?
A. Rolls
It's the First Day of The Rest of My Life again.
Russ Johnson
I’m telling you. Every time I feel slightly inclined to dip into sadness, The sunlight reflected from the Nickel Creek imbues my soul with a rainbow…a promise of safety and happiness.
The Path Less Traveled
Sarah's voice on Destination is absolutely unbelievable
Dan W
Yep tears through your soul doesn't it.
Taylor H
it's somehow even more incredible on the new album, it's insane