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.
I Should
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the cards were stacked
It's been a long hard road to hell and back
Your love meant trouble
From the day we met
You won every hand, I lost every bet
Now you think that I, I should've known better
My heart sank when I read that letter
It sank like a stone, it sank like a stone
A cup of cold coffee
Yesterday's mail
Bad love like this is always bound to fail
Your love meant trouble
From the day we met
If you want your things, they're on the front step
Now you'd think that I, I should've known better
Now I think that I should've seen it come
My heart sank when I read that letter
It sank like a stone, it sank like a stone
All alone in my kitchen
All alone in my head
Some things you can't take back once they've been said
I don't know what this love is for
All I know is I don't want it anymore
Now you'd think that I, I should've known better
I, I should've seen it come
My heart sank when I read that letter
It sank like a stone, it sank like a stone
The song "I Should’ve Known Better" by Nickel Creek shares the story of a failed relationship. The lyrics speak of a long, hard road that ultimately leads to heartbreak. The singer reflects on the past and realizes that the signs were there all along. The love he so deeply believed in was, in fact, trouble from the start. He admits that he should have known better, but he failed to see the writing on the wall.
The chorus of the song is hauntingly beautiful, with the repeated line of "My heart sank when I read that letter, it sank like a stone." This line is a powerful metaphor for the singer's emotions. He is devastated by the news of the break-up, and the weight of his grief is palpable. He is left alone in his kitchen, and the sorrow and regret he feels are overwhelming.
The song closes on a melancholic note, with the singer admitting that he doesn't know what the love was for. All he knows is that he doesn't want it anymore. The song is ultimately a reflection on the pain of heartbreak, but it is also a cautionary tale. It warns us not to ignore the signs when we're in love and to be aware that not all love stories have a happy ending.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time comin'
It took a while to realize the outcome of our relationship.
And the cards were stacked
The odds were against me from the beginning.
It's been a long hard road to hell and back
The journey of our relationship has been a difficult one full of challenges.
Your love meant trouble
Your love was problematic and troublesome from the start.
From the day we met
This issue has persisted since the beginning of our relationship.
You won every hand, I lost every bet
You always came out on top while I constantly lost in this relationship.
Now you think that I, I should've known better
You believe I should have been aware of the problematic nature of our relationship.
Now I think that I, I would've seen it come
In hindsight, I believe I should have been able to predict the outcome of our relationship.
My heart sank when I read that letter
I felt immense sadness when I received that letter.
It sank like a stone, it sank like a stone
My heart sank very quickly and heavily.
A cup of cold coffee
This situation is stale and has lost its appeal, much like a cold cup of coffee.
Yesterday's mail
This issue has been ongoing for some time.
Bad love like this is always bound to fail
This is an unhealthy and unsuccessful relationship.
If you want your things, they're on the front step
If you want to end things, your belongings are ready for you to collect.
All alone in my kitchen
I am feeling isolated and alone in my own thoughts and feelings.
All alone in my head
These thoughts and feelings are weighing heavily on my mind.
Some things you can't take back once they've been said
Certain things that were said cannot be undone or unsaid.
I don't know what this love is for
I am unsure of the purpose or value of this relationship.
All I know is I don't want it anymore
I have come to the realization that I no longer want to continue the relationship.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARRIE ANN NEWCOMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind