The first incarnation of what would later become the Nields came together in 1987 in McLean, Virginia, when Nerissa Nields met David Jones, a theater student, and the two of them started a band with Nerissa's sister Katryna. David changed his last name to Nields after marrying Nerissa.
1994 proved to be a watershed year for the Nields, with the band changing from a three-piece folk group to a five-piece rock band. The new members of the band were Dave Chalfant (bass), who Katryna had met in college, and Dave Hower (drums), a friend of Dave Chalfant's. Dave Chalfant also produced the band's album released that year, Bob on the Ceiling, which was named for a friend of Katryna's. This album featured a mix of the acoustic material that the Nields had previously specialized in and a more rock-oriented sound that would become their trademark. With their new sound, the Nields received critical acclaim, and quit their day jobs to become full-time musicians.
Their 1995 EP Abigail, named for Katryna and Nerissa's sister, would be the last self-released Nields album. In 1996, they released Gotta Get Over Greta on the independent Razor & Tie record label. The album was re-released in 1997 with three bonus tracks on Guardian, a division of Elektra Records. The group felt that with a major-label deal, they were on the brink of superstardom: they had a considerable grassroots following, and a mailing list that had tens of thousands of names and was growing continuously.
Unfortunately, the group suffered a number of setbacks the next year. Guardian folded, leaving them without a record label, and their tour van (nicknamed Moby) was growing increasingly unreliable. While they needed a new van urgently, their financial situation made it impossible for them to afford one. To raise money for the van, they self-released an album called Mousse (the nickname for Dave Chalfant's sister Andromache) and held a special 'Jam for the Van' concert where they debuted that album. As a result of that concert, the Nields were able to purchase a new van, which they nicknamed Nessie. They were also able to secure a new label, Zoë, a division of Rounder Records. All Nields records released since, except one, have been released on that label. Over the next three years, the Nields released two more records (Play and If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now), and in 1999 Katryna Nields and Dave Chalfant got married, becoming the second married couple in the band after Nerissa and David Nields.
Although the band enjoyed a moderate degree of success, they remained in the red fiscally due to the high expenses they incurred (salaries for the band members, salaries for their manager, maintaining their van, lodging, etc.). Furthermore, the group was getting older, and people wanted to settle down and start families. The limits of what could been done in a 3-minute pop song also rankled some, who wanted to explore deeper themes. The combination of these factors led to the band's breakup in 2001. Their 2001 album, released that same year, was a two-disc album titled Live From Northampton. Like their 1993 album, it was recorded at the Iron Horse Music Hall, and was self-released by the band. The band ceased in 2001.
During the mid-2000s, the band occasionally performed shows, and, from 2006, went on the release a series of albums.
This Town is Wrong
The Nields Lyrics
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happy as the day is long.
You've always been a good girl, smart girl, pretty girl, lucky girl,
happy as the day is long.
This town has so much at stake in you
Do you have any idea what they put you through?
They tell you you will go far, a little star, how I wonder what you are
When I watch you wearing their jewels
Following their every rule.
But why don't you make the rules?
Why don't you make the rules?
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela, this town is wrong
So now it's so sad to see you this way
I call but you never have time to play
They gave you all these big dreams, big plans, beneficial programs
A studio with mirrors for walls
Your doctors tell you work it through, smooth it out, feel your pain, let it out
They never let you learn how to crawl
They never let you make the rules
Why don't you make the rules?
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela spread your wings and be gone.
It's midnight, your light's on and I'm standing here in your yard
I sold my computer for a used acoustic guitar
You only need your toothbrush, fifty bucks, that velvet shirt that brings you luck
The voice that's your mother's investment
By morning we'll be long gone, on the run, city bound, I know someone
I'm sure we could stay in her apartment
And then we'll make the rules
And then we'll make the rules
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela spread your wings and be
Angela spread your wings and be
Angela spread your wings and be gone.
The Nields's song "This Town is Wrong" is a message of liberation, urging the singer, Angela, to break free from the constraints and expectations of her small town. The song opens with Angela being described as a good girl - smart, pretty, lucky, and happy. However, beneath the surface, the town is putting her through the wringer, telling her what to wear, how to look, and what to do. They have given her big dreams and big plans, but have not allowed her to make her own rules or learn how to crawl. The chorus repeats the message that the town is wrong and urges Angela to spread her wings and be gone.
The second verse continues the theme of oppression, with doctors telling Angela to work it through and smooth it out, but not teaching her how to make the rules. The singer laments Angela's changed demeanor and inability to make time to play. However, there is hope as the singer stands in Angela's yard at midnight, ready to leave with her. They will make their own rules and be city-bound, with nothing but a toothbrush, fifty bucks, and a velvet shirt. The message is clear: Angela needs to break free from the constraints of her small town and start making her own rules.
Line by Line Meaning
You've always been a good girl, smart girl, pretty girl, lucky girl,
happy as the day is long.
From an outsider's point of view, you seem to have everything – intelligence, beauty, luck, and eternal happiness.
This town has so much at stake in you
Do you have any idea what they put you through?
This community has high expectations for you and has invested a lot in your success, but have you considered the pressure they put on you?
They tell you you will go far, a little star, how I wonder what you are
When I watch you wearing their jewels
They want you to have long hair, short skirts, clear skin, nothing hurts
Following their every rule.
But why don't you make the rules?
Society tells you what to wear, how to look, and what to do in order to achieve success, but why don't you take control and make your own decisions?
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela, this town is wrong
This town and its expectations are not right for you, Angela.
So now it's so sad to see you this way
I call but you never have time to play
They gave you all these big dreams, big plans, beneficial programs
A studio with mirrors for walls
Your doctors tell you work it through, smooth it out, feel your pain, let it out
They never let you learn how to crawl
They never let you make the rules
Why don't you make the rules?
It's disheartening to see you struggling with your mental health and ignoring your loved ones. Society has given you all these grand plans and programs, but they never allow you to make your own choices or learn from your own experiences.
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela, this town is wrong
Angela spread your wings and be gone.
Once again, Angela, this town doesn't suit you. It's time for you to leave and create a new path for yourself.
It's midnight, your light's on and I'm standing here in your yard
I sold my computer for a used acoustic guitar
You only need your toothbrush, fifty bucks, that velvet shirt that brings you luck
The voice that's your mother's investment
By morning we'll be long gone, on the run, city bound, I know someone
I'm sure we could stay in her apartment
And then we'll make the rules
And then we'll make the rules
It's late at night, and I'm here because I care about you. I even sold my computer to buy a guitar just to escape with you. All you need is a few things, and we'll be off to the city to stay with someone I know. There, we can create our own path.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NERISSA NIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind