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.
Why Should The Fire Die?
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mom and dad kept theirs alive
It's early yet, don't say goodnight
I know in time you'll be all right
You're shining still behind the clouds
Saying I won't figure you out
I like it true, but let me try
I'm not scared of being alone
I'm not scared of being alone, being alone
I'm just happier being confused
Beside the fire, as long as it's with you
Why should the fire die
My mom and dad kept theirs alive
It's getting late, she says goodnight
I fall asleep, I'll be all right
In these lyrics from Nickel Creek's song "Why Should The Fire Die?" the singer reflects on the fragility and beauty of relationships. He asks himself why he should give up on his relationship, comparing it to the enduring love of his parents. He recognizes that his partner may be going through a difficult time and offers reassurance that things will be okay. The chorus reiterates the question of why a relationship should come to an end, highlighting the importance of commitment and perseverance.
The bridge of the song explores the idea of being content with confusion and uncertainty, as long as it's shared with someone special. The singer admits that he's not afraid of being alone, but finds comfort in being "beside the fire" with his partner, where they can continue to try to figure things out together. The song ends with a sense of calm acceptance, as the singer falls asleep knowing things will be okay.
Overall, "Why Should The Fire Die?" is a poignant exploration of love, commitment, and the ups and downs of relationships. Through his lyrics, the singer captures the universal experience of navigating the complexities of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Why should the fire die
Questioning the reason for love to fade away
My mom and dad kept theirs alive
Parents serve as a model of love that should inspire their children to keep the fire going
It's early yet, don't say goodnight
Savoring and cherishing the moment, reluctant to let go of love's warmth
I know in time you'll be all right
Assuring a love interest that they'll get through challenging moments in their relationship and emerge stronger
You're shining still behind the clouds
Recognizing that a loved one's inner beauty is concealed behind personal struggles
Saying I won't figure you out
Acknowledging the difficulties of really understanding and knowing someone completely
I like it true, but let me try
Preferring to be genuine and honest, but still attempting to understand a loved one better
And try and try for the rest of my life
Expressing a desire to consistently work on a relationship throughout one's lifetime
I'm not scared of being alone
Not fearing the prospect of being single
I'm not scared of being alone, being alone
Repeating the notion that being alone isn't a concern
I'm just happier being confused
Choosing to endure the uncertainty and confusion of love over the sadness of losing it completely
Beside the fire, as long as it's with you
Finding comfort in knowing a love interest is still present to share in life's moments
It's getting late, she says goodnight
Aware that love's presence is fleeting, leading to farewell
I fall asleep, I'll be all right
Knowing that despite the pain of lost love, one will eventually move on and be okay
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CHRIS THILE, SARA WATKINS, SEAN WATKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ThatAmandaGurrrl
This is one of my favorite Nickel Creek songs thanks for posting :)
Rea G Lowe
God i want to change the font of that cover so bad. Good song though
Lori Lowes
+Rea G Lowe I know, right?