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.
Tomorrowland
The Nields Lyrics
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And we agree to be happy happy happy
And we will be completely in control
We want to go to Paradise, everyone there says it's so nice
Everyone's got their own TV with their own episode of Biography
Everyone's got twenty-five lovers and each one dreams only of me
Gotta find Tomorrowland
Gotta find Tomorrowland
Gotta find Tomorrowland
Gotta find Tomorrowland
The boat the boat the boat, d'you think that it will float?
The boat will take us to places far remote
That's the joke, the boat has got us by the throat
We went out to Saturn to see our friend Stevie
He met us at the door and said, "I was just leaving
But I got you a gig at the only club on this world"
Chorus
When your dream comes true you're out one dream
When your dream comes true you're out one dream
I left you a clue, a mark, a trail in view
My work, my art, my little glass shoe
Leave the ball while you're hot so they remember you
Yeah I left that ball, I walked out fast 'cause I knew the good times couldn't last
I left my shoe so that you would take it but I kept my heart so you couldn't break it
Yeah I left that shoe behind for you to remind you of our love
Chorus
The lyrics of The Nields's song Tomorrowland depict a euphoric fantasy world where everyone is happy, has multiple lovers who only dream of them, and their own TV channel. The characters in the song, "you and me and she and he and he," all agree to be completely in control of this paradise. The chorus, repeating the phrase "gotta find Tomorrowland," highlights the desire to find this perfect world.
The song also explores the idea of chasing dreams and the consequences of achieving them. The line "When your dream comes true you're out one dream" suggests that once a dream is achieved, there is a loss of something else. This could be interpreted as the loss of the excitement and anticipation of pursuing a dream or even the realization that the dream may not have been as fulfilling as imagined.
The boat mentioned in the song symbolizes the hope of reaching this utopia, but it also represents danger as it has the characters "by the throat." Additionally, their friend Stevie on Saturn offers them a gig at the only club on the world, which highlights the idea that even in a perfect world, there is still work to be done.
Overall, the lyrics of Tomorrowland explore the desire to escape reality and find a perfect world, while also acknowledging the potential downsides of achieving one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
You and me and she and he and he
We, a group of people, are joining together to embark on a journey towards a common goal
And we agree to be happy happy happy
We have decided to pursue happiness as our ultimate purpose in life
And we will be completely in control
We will have complete power over our own lives and decisions
We want to go to Paradise, everyone there says it's so nice
We aspire to reach an ideal place called Paradise, where everyone claims to be happy
Everyone's got their own TV with their own episode of Biography
In Paradise, every person has their own television and personal story, which is well-known by all others
Everyone's got twenty-five lovers and each one dreams only of me
Each resident of Paradise has multiple romantic partners, but each partner is exclusively devoted to the individual
Chorus
We must locate Tomorrowland
The boat the boat the boat, d'you think that it will float?
We have doubts about the seaworthiness of our means of transportation
The boat will take us to places far remote
Our boat will transport us to distant, unexplored regions
That's the joke, the boat has got us by the throat
Our situation may be more precarious than we realize, and we may be in danger
We went out to Saturn to see our friend Stevie
We ventured to Saturn in order to visit our acquaintance named Stevie
He met us at the door and said, "I was just leaving
Upon our arrival, Stevie informed us that he was preparing to depart
But I got you a gig at the only club on this world"
Despite his imminent leave-taking, Stevie arranged for us to perform at the sole entertainment venue on Saturn
When your dream comes true you're out one dream
Upon the realization of one's goal, that person may find themselves desiring something else instead
I left you a clue, a mark, a trail in view
I purposely provided you with indications and signals to follow
My work, my art, my little glass shoe
My creations, expressions, and personal affects are all symbols of my identity
Leave the ball while you're hot so they remember you
It is advisable to depart from an enjoyable or successful situation at the height of one's popularity, so as to leave a lasting impression
Yeah I left that ball, I walked out fast 'cause I knew the good times couldn't last
I vacated a highly pleasurable experience quickly due to my awareness that it would not persist
I left my shoe so that you would take it but I kept my heart so you couldn't break it
I intentionally abandoned a personal item as a keepsake for you, but protected my own feelings from harm
Yeah I left that shoe behind for you to remind you of our love
My intent was to leave behind a symbol of my affection for you
Chorus
We must locate Tomorrowland
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NERISSA NIELDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind