He began playing mandolin in the early career with Nickel Creek, but later switched to guitar. Sean made it to the National Flatpicking Championship in 1993 at age 16. Now Nickel Creek has exploded in the contemporary folk/bluegrass scene. This Watkins has already released 3 solo albums and appeared on many others. Of this experience, Watkins has said, "I've learned now to look back to music that has lasted through the years and to appreciate the timeless value that it has."
Sean's first album Let it Fall consists primarily of bluegrass inspired instrumental tracks. Providing the vocals on the only sung track on the album is former Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips. Sean's second album, 26 Miles was a much bigger departure from bluegrass. While still mainly acoustic, the album showed influences from jazz, indie rock, and new age music. His third album, Blinder's On continues along many of the same lines as the previous one.
It was recently announced on Nickel Creek's website that the band would go on hiatus at the end of 2007. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Sean states that he plans to make music for movies.
No Lighted Windows
Sean Watkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
endless and empty
it's always dusk and there's no noon
there's no midnight
i can't recall when i arrived
or how i got here
but i've been in this town for way too long
i wandered around looking for life
but i found no one
save this queue of a nervous few
but i wouldn't count them
i'm not going back to
those gray streets where there's
no lighted windows
Sean Watkins's song "No Lighted Windows" is an introspective piece that delves into the emotions of the singer who has had enough of living in a monotonous, dreary town. The first line, "I've had enough of these gray streets," sets the tone for the rest of the song that revolves around the desolation and dullness this person has experienced. They are living in a place that is lifeless and devoid of any energy, where everything feels the same.
The verse "It's always dusk and there's no noon, there's no midnight," signifies a feeling of stagnation and lack of progression. Time appears to have stopped for the singer. They go on to mention being in the town for too long and how even the graveyard seems to have more cheer. These lyrics suggest that the persona has become stagnant in this town and has failed to evolve or find any excitement, and he even finds the graveyard to have a more animated emotion than the town.
Despite wandering in search of life, the singer finds no one except a queue of a few nervous people who are not worth counting. The last verse, "I'm not going back to those gray streets where there's no lighted windows," suggests that the singer has made a decision to get out of this town and move to a place where there is more vitality and light.
Line by Line Meaning
i've had enough of these gray streets
I am tired of being in this dull and unexciting town
endless and empty
The town seems to stretch on forever with no real substance
it's always dusk and there's no noon
The town has a constantly depressing and dreary atmosphere
there's no midnight
Even the supposed excitement of nighttime is lacking in this town
i can't recall when i arrived
The town has been so uneventful that it feels like time has stopped for me since I arrived
or how i got here
I don't even remember how I stumbled upon this town
but i've been in this town for way too long
I have been here far longer than I ever intended to be
a graveyard has more cheer
The town is so devoid of life and excitement that even a cemetery would be more lively
i wandered around looking for life
I explored the town in hopes of finding something to do or someone to connect with
but i found no one
Unfortunately, I did not encounter any interesting or friendly individuals
save this queue of a nervous few
The only people I did come across were a group of anxious and unapproachable individuals
but i wouldn't count them
Their presence did little to alleviate my boredom or make me feel more connected to the town
i'm not going back to
I have decided I will not return to
those gray streets where there's
The uneventful and colorless streets where there is
no lighted windows
No signs of life or excitement to be found
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.