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.
This Side
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take her or leave her she will still be the same
She'll not try to buy you with her time
But nothing's the same, as you will see when she's gone
It's foreign on this side
And I'll not leave my home again
There's no place to hide
You dream of colors that have never been made
You imagine songs that have never been played
(They will try)
They will try to buy you and your mind
Only the curious have something to find
It's foreign on this side
And the truth is a bitter friend
But reasons few have I to go back again
Your first dawn blinded you, left you cursing the day
Entrance is crucial and it's not without pain
(There's no path) There's no path to follow, once you're here
You'll climb up the slide and then you'll slide down the stairs
It's foreign on this side
But it feels like I'm home again
There's no place to hide
But I don't think I'm scared
(There's no place to hide)
(There's no place to hide) But I don't think I'm scared
(There's no place to hide) But I don't think I'm scared
The song "This Side" by Nickel Creek portrays the idea of feeling out of place and struggling to find a sense of belonging. The opening lyrics depict a woman who is unapologetically herself and is not defined by the opinions of others. The singer acknowledges that her presence on this side of life brings a unique energy that will be missed when she is gone. The lyrics suggest that while the singer may not fully understand this woman or her ways, he has come to appreciate her as she is.
The second half of the song turns inward as the singer reflects on his own experiences in life. He speaks of the desire to explore and discover new things, to dream of something that hasn't been created yet. However, there are those who will try to buy his time and influence his thoughts. The sense of being lost and alone is overwhelming, as there is no clear path to follow. Yet, in the midst of this confusion, there is a sense of belonging that is found despite the challenges. The final lines of the song speak to the hope that is present in the midst of all the uncertainty.
Overall, "This Side" speaks to the human experience of feeling like an outsider and struggling to find one's place in the world. The lyrics encourage us to embrace our uniqueness and hold onto hope even in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
One day you'll see her and you'll know what I mean
One day you'll come across a special person who will change your understanding of love
Take her or leave her she will still be the same
Whether you choose to accept or reject her, she'll remain unchanged
She'll not try to buy you with her time
She won't try to convince you to love her by spending more time with you
But nothing's the same, as you will see when she's gone
When she's gone, you'll realize how much she meant to you and everything will seem different
It's foreign on this side
This new experience is unfamiliar and uncomfortable
And I'll not leave my home again
I won't venture out again after this tough experience
There's no place to hide
There's nowhere to escape from the difficulties of this new situation
And I'm nothing but scared
All I feel is fear
You dream of colors that have never been made
You have incredible and unrealizable aspirations
You imagine songs that have never been played
You imagine creating something new and unheard of
(They will try)
Others will attempt to persuade you to pursue their dreams
They will try to buy you and your mind
They will attempt to convince you to value money and power over your own thoughts
Only the curious have something to find
Exploration of new ideas leads to valuable discoveries
And the truth is a bitter friend
The reality of the situation is hard to face
But reasons few have I to go back again
There's little motivation to return to the way things were before
Your first dawn blinded you, left you cursing the day
The beginning of this experience was difficult and made you regret it
Entrance is crucial and it's not without pain
Starting this new chapter requires sacrifice and discomfort
(There's no path) There's no path to follow, once you're here
This experience does not have a set guideline to follow
You'll climb up the slide and then you'll slide down the stairs
There will be progress and regression in this new experience
But it feels like I'm home again
Despite the newness of the situation, it feels right
(There's no place to hide)
There's no escape from this reality
(There's no place to hide) But I don't think I'm scared
Despite the lack of escape, I've found a sense of comfort and bravery
(There's no place to hide) But I don't think I'm scared
Despite the lack of escape, I've found a sense of comfort and bravery
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SEAN WATKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NarrowChutes
I will never understand why this song wasn't a huge hit...along with the smoothie song, a lighthouses tale, and several others. They are way way too good for so many people to have never even heard of them.
@Davidcolemanfl
They were pretty huge in the country music scene in the 90s
@MusicOrLoseItTV
They had a decent run in the 00s. Had YouTube existed back then these vids would have millions more views
@azalea_moon-kee
They were ahead of their time by about 10 years...in the Mumford and Sons era they would have been huge. Such a pity.
@taralynstevenson4016
Nickle Creek and This Side was by far the best albums they did. Still listen to the all the time. I have Why Should The Fire Die and A Dotted Line, but they don't measure up.
@markbass8492
Never has a truer statement been made. Masterpiece.
@expstacy
2023🙌🏻 still listening to this song, it’s just so beautiful♥️
@JoezGarage
Sometimes I’ll play this song and it takes me right back to where I was 11 years ago and how different life was. This music deserves more attention in today’s world
@mindyourliberty
Yes!
@mossrun
You know I am 61 and have been thru blue grass, folk, rock, jazz, acid, alternative and it all. I know these guys have listened to all types... and, I like the way they put it together.