I thought I’d
begin these lessons with the band that has easily had the most influence on me
through their lyrics and music, Nickel Creek. If I made a list of my top 100
favorite songs of all time (which sadly I have done), they would take the cake
for most songs on that list (which they do). One thing I love about their
albums is each song is so different, and it seems like every time I put on one
of their CD’s I discover a new one that stands out to me. Even now this
happens, and they haven’t made music together since ’05. I've told my
wife if they get back together and go on tour, it’s the only band/artist I’d
pay just about anything to go see. So we hope the concert’s either close and
cheap, or not for many more years so I don’t make any foolish family financial
decisions. Anyway, here are just 4 of Nickel Creek’s songs that have taught me
something of value in my life.
Reasons Why
(Album – Nickel Creek, Songwriter – Sean Watkins & somebody else):
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This song is beautifully sung by Sean’s sister (Sara)
and because of this, it kind of has an Alison Krauss, sad love song feel about
a woman wandering away from or leaving a man. But after realizing Sean wrote it
and really listening to the words, I find there is much more behind it
with themes of being distracted from values, faith, love, or family by the world
and other dreams/desires. When I ponder on these things, I realize just like
the person in the song seems to do that all things must be put in perspective.
We’re always told to chase our dreams and never give up on them, but do we ever
think, “Maybe there’s something more important in the long run than MY dreams.”
Do our dreams or something we want interfere with the most vital things when
all is said and done like family, charity, and faith in God? I know that
avoiding distractions from the “best” things is easier said than done. I struggle with this concept daily, but a couple of lines teach me ways to stay
focused.
“I don’t remember one jump or one leap, just quiet
steps away from your lead” – It’s really the little choices that lead to slow
drifting we have to be careful of. Examining even small things we decide to do
every day is a good way to make sure we are seeking after good things and
considering others, especially the people most dear to us.
The last two lines of the song are “With so much
deception, it’s hard not to wander away” – Not being selfish and not wandering in
life is hard to do and ALL people struggle with it. We all have our things we
can’t give up, and our excuses or “reasons why”. Our natural bodies are programmed
to always think of our needs first, and society often reinforces this by glorifying
pleasure, fame, and gluttony. There truly is a lot of deception and it is hard,
but if we can learn ways to recognize deception and combat or avoid it, we are
less likely to become lost individuals and wonder, “Where am I today, I wish
that I knew.”
So many in the world think it is almost the sole
purpose in life to chase your own dreams and do what makes you happy in any
moment, and they look to the rich and famous as role models of people who
successfully accomplished their dreams. Not that all rich and famous people
have horrible lives, but I don’t think that chasing their dreams of becoming
rich or famous has brought on any true happiness. Many of them, especially
those that didn’t hang on to their roots and morals, are now only stuck in
lives full of stress, addiction, and loneliness. This next song is a great example
of this very principle.
Green and
Grey (Album – This Side, Songwriter – Chris Thile)
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This is one of the first Nickel Creek songs I
ever fell in love with. It’s uniquely written about a “rock star”-type figure
who seems to have everything to his crowds of fans: money, talent, success,
etc; but really all he wants is love from the one person who doesn't seem
to notice him. The song presents his struggle to balance keeping up his celebrity
persona to please everyone else (the green) with actually feeling lonely and
confused while longing for this one special person behind the stage (the grey).
Success and money don’t bring happiness; it’s just like the Beatles said, “All
you need is love.”
When In Rome
(Album – Why Should the Fire Die, Songwriter – Thile)
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Since it seems we’ve been mostly on the topic of
there being greater things than temporal pleasures, this song falls perfectly
in line. With Thile, sometimes his explanations of songs aren't exactly what I
thought; nonetheless, this is my interpretation of the song.
Rome seems to be the world (more so the Western,
modern world), and the lyrics seem to question the old idiom, “When in Rome, do
as the Romans.” We put so much trust in the masses and the ways of our world
and culture, but maybe “Rome” doesn't always know what’s best. The song has a
couple examples.
The first lines ask, “Where can a sick man go, when
he can’t choke down the medicine the old doc knows?” I could rant about this
for a while. I think it is totally true and sad that western medicine is
built on a model of symptom-masking medicines and temporary-relief-giving
surgeries (two huge moneymakers). If someone wants something less dramatic,
more natural, or (if it’s a chronic issue) more geared towards the actual root
of the problem, unfortunately they are usually better off finding someone that
didn’t go to medical school.
But the real lesson that I learn from these lyrics
comes with the last verse: “Where can a dead man go – a question with an answer
only dead men know, but I’m gonna bet they never really feel at home if they
spent their lifetime learning how to live in Rome.” These words remind me of
scriptural lessons: we’re supposed to be “In the world but not of the world”,
God’s ways are not our ways, and we’ll have no interest in heaven in the next
life if we can’t learn to give, love, and serve in this life (Mosiah 4:18). We
can’t always trust “Rome” to be our guide on how to live, be happy, and
succeed. Learning how to be successful by world’s standards in this life doesn’t
always mean success in the next.
Doubting
Thomas (Album – Why Should the Fire Die, Songwriter – Thile)
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This is my favorite Nickel Creek song of all
time. I could write so many feelings about it, but this post is long enough already
and nothing I write could do justice to it. If you’ve ever struggled
with doubt or insecurities (which I’m sure everyone has), then please listen.
And if you are someone trying to share a message of faith and joy with others,
this is a great song for introspection about either being fully converted or
having one foot in and one foot out. Not that I’ve ever sat alone and pondered
the depths of these lyrics myself . . . Oh wait, it’s music, it’s Nickel Creek,
and it’s me . . . Of course I have.
