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.
Should've Known Better
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 seen it come
My heart sank when I read that letter
It sank like a stone
It sank like a stone
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 think that I should've known better
Now you think that 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
All alone in my kitchen
All alone in my head
Some things you can't take back
Once they've been said
Don't know what this love is for
All I know is, I don't want it anymore
Now you think that I should've known better
Now you think that 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 "Should've Known Better" by Nickel Creek talks about a relationship that has gone sour. The singer reflects on how he should have known better from the beginning that this person and their love would cause trouble. He describes the relationship as a long and hard road to hell and back. Despite his love for this person, he always lost every bet in their relationship while she won every hand. When he receives a letter, presumably a breakup letter, his heart sinks like a stone because deep down, he knew it was coming.
The singer then goes on to describe how bad love like this is always bound to fail. He offers to give her things back, knowing that this relationship has run its course. It is as if the singer doesn't know what love is anymore and doesn't want it either. He is left all alone in his kitchen with his thoughts, wishing that he could take back some things that have been said but knowing that some things just can't be undone.
The song is a reflection of how sometimes we ignore the signs in our relationships that are right in front of us, and we end up getting hurt. It's about how we can't always see the future, but we can learn from our past mistakes to make better decisions in future relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time coming
It took a significant amount of time for this situation to come to fruition.
And the cards were stacked
The environment and circumstances were biased and against them.
It's been a long, hard road to hell and back
It has been a difficult and arduous journey both figuratively and literally.
Your love meant trouble
The person's love was problematic and caused issues.
From the day we met
This problem was present from the beginning of the relationship.
You won every hand
The person succeeded in their endeavors and negotiations.
I lost every bet
The singer did not win any of the decisions or gambles in the situation.
Now you think that I should've known better
The person places blame on the artist for their actions and choices.
I should've seen it come
The artist should have anticipated the outcome but did not do so.
My heart sank when I read that letter
The artist was devastated by the news they received from the letter.
It sank like a stone
The singer's spirits and emotions plummeted significantly.
Cup of cold coffee, yesterday's mail
The artist is in a mundane and uneventful state and nothing noteworthy is happening.
Bad love like this is always bound to fail
Toxic relationships like this one are doomed to collapse.
If you want your things, they're on the front step
The singer is kicking the person out of their life and relationship.
All alone in my kitchen, all alone in my head
The singer is isolated and lost in thought in a familiar environment.
Some things you can't take back, once they've been said
Certain words and actions have irreversible effects and consequences.
Don't know what this love is for
The artist questions the motives and purpose of their love.
All I know is, I don't want it anymore
The singer has made the decision to end the relationship with the person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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