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.
Git Along Little Dogies
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spied a cowpuncher riding along
His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a-jingling
And as he approached he was singing this song
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Mark 'em and brand 'em and bob off their tails
Round up the horses, load up the chuck wagon
Then throw the little dogies out on the long trail
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Night comes on and we hold 'em on the bedground
The same little dogies that rolled on so slow
We roll up the herd and cut out the stray ones
Then roll the little dogies like never before
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Some boys go up the long trail for pleasure
But that's where they get it most awfully wrong
For you'll never know the trouble they give us
As we go drivin' them dogies along
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
The song "Git Along Little Dogies" by Nickel Creek is a classic cowboy song that describes the life of a cowpuncher on the trail with a herd of cattle. The opening verse sets the scene, with the singer spotting a cowpuncher riding along, spurs a-jingling and hat thrown back. The cowpuncher is singing the title refrain, urging the cattle to keep moving along. The chorus repeats this refrain, which has become something of a catchphrase for cowboys and other Western enthusiasts.
The song goes on to describe some of the tasks involved in herding cattle, such as rounding up the dogies (young cattle), marking and branding them, and loading up the chuck wagon. The cowboys drive the herd along the long trail, holding them on the bedground at night before rolling up the herd to continue on their journey. The final verse reveals that some boys go on the trail for pleasure, but the cowpuncher warns that they'll soon find out just how much trouble driving cattle can be.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the cowboys who drove millions of head of cattle from Texas to Wyoming and other destinations during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It captures the adventure and hard work of the cowboy life, as well as the camaraderie and shared experiences that came with it.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking one morning for pleasure
I was strolling around enjoying myself
I spied a cowpuncher riding along
I saw a cowboy riding on a horse
His hat was throwed back and his spurs were a-jingling
His hat was tilted back and his spurs were making a jingling sound
And as he approached he was singing this song
As he got closer, he was singing a song
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
Move along, little cows
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Your situation is not my problem
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
Move along, little cows
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
You will end up living in Wyoming
Early in the springtime we round up the dogies
At the beginning of spring we gather the cows
Mark 'em and brand 'em and bob off their tails
We put marks and brands on them and cut off their tails
Round up the horses, load up the chuck wagon
We gather the horses and load up the food wagon
Then throw the little dogies out on the long trail
We release the cows onto the long trail
Night comes on and we hold 'em on the bedground
Night falls and we keep the cows in a safe place to sleep
The same little dogies that rolled on so slow
These are the same cows that moved so slowly before
We roll up the herd and cut out the stray ones
We gather up the cows and remove the ones that are lost
Then roll the little dogies like never before
Then we move the cows quickly like never before
Some boys go up the long trail for pleasure
Some people go on the long trail for fun
But that's where they get it most awfully wrong
But they don't realize how difficult it can be
For you'll never know the trouble they give us
They will never understand the problems they cause us
As we go drivin' them dogies along
As we move the cows along
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
You will live in Wyoming
Whoopee ti yi yo, git along little dogies
Move along, little cows
It's your misfortune and none of my own
Your situation is not my problem
Whoopie ti yi yo, git along little dogies
Move along, little cows
You know that Wyoming will be your new home
You will live in Wyoming
Lyrics © KEISER PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Written by: EDWARD BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TKGIOIA
My fave track from Little Cowpoke! I am glad to hear kids sing this song!