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.
You Don’t Have To Move That Mountain
Nickel Creek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
Just show me the way around it
We must climb a great high mountain
To reach God's gracious kingdom
But in His words you'll find the strength
'Cause you don't have to move that mountain
Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
Just show me the way around it
Well, the way is filled with pitfalls
And sometimes we may falter
But you can have His grace, my friend
On your knees down at the altar
'Cause you don't have to move that mountain
Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
Just show me the way around it
You don't have to move that mountain
Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
Just show me the way around it
The song "You Don't Have to Move That Mountain" by Nickel Creek is a gospel-inspired piece that focuses on the idea that no matter how difficult the challenges we face may seem, we can always overcome them with faith in God. The lyrics suggest that while it may be impossible for us to move mountains or remove stumbling blocks from our path, we can still find a way through by seeking guidance and support from a higher power.
The song speaks to the universal human experience of struggle and the need for perseverance and faith in the face of adversity. The mountain and stumbling block metaphors serve to emphasize the enormity of the obstacles we encounter in life, but they also suggest that we are not alone in our struggles. The lyrics encourage us to look to God for the strength and guidance we need to overcome these obstacles and continue on our journey toward a better life.
Overall, "You Don't Have to Move That Mountain" is a powerful and uplifting song that reminds us of the importance of faith, perseverance, and community in overcoming the challenges we face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have to move that mountain
You don't have to do the impossible task for me. You just need to support me in whatever way you can.
Just help me Lord to climb it
I need divine assistance to overcome the obstacles in my path.
You don't have to move that stumblin' block
You don't have to eliminate the problem. You just have to guide me to find a solution.
Just show me the way around it
I need direction and guidance to navigate around the obstacle and reach my goal.
We must climb a great high mountain
The task ahead is not easy, and it requires significant effort and dedication.
To reach God's gracious kingdom
The ultimate goal is to attain the blessings of heaven, which requires hard work.
But in His words you'll find the strength
The teachings of God provide the motivation and courage to overcome any challenge.
If you will just believe them
To benefit from the divine teachings, one should have faith and trust in them.
Well, the way is filled with pitfalls
The path to success is not smooth, and there are many obstacles and setbacks.
And sometimes we may falter
We may stumble and encounter failures, but we should not give up.
But you can have His grace, my friend
God is merciful and forgiving, and one can receive his blessings and help.
On your knees down at the altar
One can seek God's help and guidance through prayer and devotion.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.