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.
Let It Fall
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I walk through
The glowing wheat fields churning on the ground
As all the ravens fly away
They leave nothing
But the sun and endless blue day
I always knew I felt this way
To myself I've got to let it go
Through all the joy and all the pain
With the drought and the rain
The honest truth is all I want to know
Let it fall
Let go
My kingdom's walls have fallen down
But I know that
I don't wear an undeserved crown
And though it seemed to fit me well
Underneath it
I would certainly fall down
Last summer we left things unsaid
That should be now a long time dead
And now it seems that time has put it well
The words can chase away a friend
But to a lie they'll bring an end
And throw it down the darkest, deepest well
Let it fall
Let go
Let it fall
Let go
Let it fall
Let go
Let it fall
Let go
The song "Let It Fall" by Nickel Creek tells a story of letting go and embracing the truth. The singer walks through the wheat fields, feeling unburdened and free. The ravens fly away, leaving behind a peaceful, blue sky. The singer has always known that they needed to let something go, but struggled to find the right time to do so. Through all the ups and downs, the singer has come to realize that the truth is all they want to know. They let go of their kingdom's walls, knowing that they don't wear an undeserved crown. They are willing to let go of things left unsaid, in order to embrace honesty and truth.
The chorus reinforces this message of letting go and moving on. The repetition of the phrase "let it fall, let go" invites the listener to release their own burdens and embrace the unknown, trusting that things will work out in the end. The singer acknowledges that words can end friendships and bring an end to lies, but in the process, they throw these things down the darkest, deepest well. This final image emphasizes the importance of letting go and moving on, even if it means leaving behind parts of ourselves that we may have once held onto tightly.
Overall, "Let It Fall" is a song about embracing impermanence and the inevitability of change. It encourages the listener to face their fears, embrace the truth, and let go of the burdens that are weighing them down.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey look, I'm not weighed down
I have let go of my burdens and am light as I walk.
As I walk through
The glowing wheat fields churning on the ground
As all the ravens fly away
They leave nothing
But the sun and endless blue day
I am walking through a peaceful and idyllic scene, with nothing but the sun and sky around me.
I always knew I felt this way
But couldn't find the time to say
To myself I've got to let it go
Through all the joy and all the pain
With the drought and the rain
The honest truth is all I want to know
I have always known that I needed to let go of something, but could not find the right time. Through both good and bad times, all I wanted was to know the truth.
My kingdom's walls have fallen down
But I know that
I don't wear an undeserved crown
And though it seemed to fit me well
Underneath it
I would certainly fall down
I have lost my power and influence, but I realize that it was not deserved. Even though it seemed a perfect fit, deep down I knew it would lead to my downfall.
Last summer we left things unsaid
That should be now a long time dead
And now it seems that time has put it well
The words can chase away a friend
But to a lie they'll bring an end
And throw it down the darkest, deepest well
Last summer, we left important issues unresolved, but now it is clear that they should have been put away long ago. Words can ruin friendships, but a lie will ultimately lead to its downfall.
Let it fall
Let go
I need to let go of everything and just let life take its course.
Let it fall
Let go
I need to release my grip on everything and accept that things will happen as they will.
Let it fall
Let go
I need to surrender to the flow of life.
Let it fall
Let go
I need to abandon control and embrace uncertainty.
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cblunceford
this song is a refuge for many. in dark times or times of uncertainty, this song has always been there to comfort me, this song gives me hope to keep my head high, and to keep on walking when i feel like i cant walk anymore. thanks to these composers for making such a great song for people to enjoy forever.
@scottrauth8219
Amazing song and great musicianship
@joemorrow13
Out of everything Glen has done in his career this song is his magnum opus.
@caramason56
❤️❤️❤️❤️ An absolutely beautiful tune
@neozzickmixes3987
This song has had a special place for years. It always will
@morrisralph54
Beautiful song.....great work.
@ChrisHaon
My favorite song of all time.
@Fedaalis
True Gospel in music form.
@toadocean
BUT!!! I absolutely adore this song!
@sunshinecole
Outstanding song! :D