The band's second album, ...Somewhere More Familiar was released in 1997 and sold approximately 30,000 copies through its initial pressing, prompting Universal Records to sign the band. Universal re-released ...Somewhere More Familiar in late 1997. A single from the album, "All For You" hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the band's most successful single.
The band's third album Fortress was released in 2000 by Universal. The band worked with producers Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Heart), Richie Zito (Cheap Trick), and Paul Ebersold (3 Doors Down). The album featured minor pop hits "Champagne High" and "Change Your Mind."
In 2003, after the band split from Universal, it released its fourth studio album, Chasing Daylight, on the Sixthman label and toured throughout the year to promote the album. The band's internet presence emerged during this time period, and hardcore fans dubbing themselves "Hazelnuts" studied setlists, shared bootleg concert recordings, and initiated a promotion scheme with the band through their official website. 2003 also saw the simultaneous release of Live*LIVE, a two-disc live album, and A Life in the Day, a live DVD.
In 2004, Sister Hazel released its next studio album Lift. Songs from Lift were re-recorded for 2005's Lift: Acoustic Renditions, an EP of studio acoustic takes on five of the songs, offered exclusively through Apple's iTunes Store. In July 2005, the Sister Hazel album was re-issued again by Sixthman, in response to claims that the album had become difficult to find in stores.
Sister Hazel then promoted its album, Absolutely, which was released on October 10, 2006. The band also continued to tour and hold annual fan gathering events, The Rock Boat and The Rock Slope. Absolutely is the band's highest charting album on the Billboard charts following Fortress and it received 4 out of a possible 5 stars from Allmusic, a tie with Fortress's score.
On June 5, 2007, Sister Hazel released a "hybrid" album entitled BAM! Volume 1. It contains B-sides from the Absolutely recording sessions and some from previous albums.
Sister Hazel also released a holiday album called Santa's Playlist on September 25, 2007.
On February 9, 2008, Sister Hazel performed a live concert at Daytona International Speedway for the Budweiser Shootout.
Sister Hazel released a live acoustic album on June 17, 2008 entitled Before The Amplifiers, Live Acoustic on Croakin' Poets/Rock Ridge Music. The record features sixteen tracks, including the band's hits, fan favorites, and live concert staples, all in a stripped-down, acoustic format. The album was recorded on January 12 at Nickel & Dime Studios in Atlanta (other bands who have recorded there in the past include Indigo Girls, The B-52's, Shawn Mullins) in front of 100 lucky fans who were chosen at random from more than five thousand entries.
At the July 18, 2008 concert at Wolf Trap Farm Park, drummer Mark Trojanowski took paternity leave for his newborn child. Former Vertical Horizon and current Doobie Brothers drummer Ed Toth played in his place.
On July 9, 2009 Ford Motor Company announced a collaboration with Sister Hazel to promote the company's new Sync Technology, which is available on a number of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles. The band has been chosen to be the face of the company's "Sync My Ride" website.
The band released its seventh studio album of original songs (tenth album overall) on August 18, 2009. The album, entitled "Release", contains 12 tracks and is on the Rock Ridge Music label. On the day of release, "Release" was the number one album on iTunes.
On October 12th, 2010, Sister Hazel released their 8th studio album, "Heartland Highway", which is unique among SH albums in that all band members wrote at least one song that appears on the album.
Sister Hazel Williams was an African-American woman who ran Sister Hazel's Rescue Mission in Gainesville, FL. during the 1970s and early '80s. This facility gave those who were down on their luck a safe place to stay warm, eat and regroup, regardless of age, race or beliefs. It is in this spirit of unconditional concern for all beings that the band chose to use her name.
The band has had music featured in several movies and soundtracks including Major League: Back to the Minors, The Wedding Planner, Clay Pigeons, Bedazzled, American Wedding, and 10 Things I Hate About You. Sister Hazel also appear on the Fleetwood Mac tribute album, Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours with their cover version of "Gold Dust Woman". In 1999, they recorded a cover of "September Gurls" for the Big Star tribute album, Big Star, Small World. However, the track was not included when the album was released in 2006. The song "Where Do You Go" was featured on Scrubs (Season 6, Episode 4, "My House").
Band members
Ken Block - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Jett Beres - bass, harmony vocals
Andrew Copeland - rhythm guitar, vocals
Ryan Newell - lead and slide guitar, harmony vocals
Mark Trojanowski - drums
Champagne High
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I never thought it would hurt just to hear
"I do" and "I do"
And I do a number on myself
And all that I thought to be
And you'll be the one
That just left me undone
By my own, hesitation
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all
Then I'll turn and go
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done.
[Chorus]
Well I'm on a champagne high
Where will I be when I stop wondering why
On a champagne high
I'd toast to the future but that'd be a lie
On a champagne high, high
Spring turned to summer
But then winter turned to mean
The distance seemed right
At the time it was best - to leave
And to leave behind
What I once thought was fine And so real - to me
And while I'm still gone
On the quest for my song
I'm at your - celebration
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all
Then I'll turn and go
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done.
[Chorus]
Your wagons been hitched to a star
Well now he'll be your thing that's new
Yeah what little I have you can borrow
'Cause I'm old and I'm blue
And for the million hours that we were
Well I'll smile and remember it all
Then I'll turn and go
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done.
Well I'm on a champagne high (so high)
Where will I be when I stop wondering why
On a champagne high (so high)
Toast to the future but that'd be a lie
On a champagne high
Where will I be when I stop wondering why
On a champagne high, high,
So high so high you left me undone
So high, so high you left me undone
The song "Champagne High" by Sister Hazel is about a relationship that has ended and the singer's struggle to move on from it. The lyrics suggest that the singer did not anticipate the emotional pain they would feel when they heard their former partner say their wedding vows, and now they are reflecting on their own hesitations in the relationship that led to its dissolution. The metaphor of being on a "champagne high" suggests that the singer is still caught up in memories of the relationship, even though it is now over. They are grappling with the realization that while their former partner has moved on with their life, they themselves are still searching for a sense of direction and purpose.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer confesses that they never anticipated the level of pain they would feel upon hearing their former partner get married. This realization causes them to reflect on their own behavior in the relationship, admitting that they "did a number" on themselves by not fully committing to the partnership. Despite this, the singer is still struggling to move on, as evidenced by their use of the image of a "champagne high." They know that they need to let go of the relationship and move forward, but they are unable to do so at this time. This is echoed in the chorus, where the singer acknowledges that they are still "wondering why" the relationship ended and where they will go from here.
Line by Line Meaning
I wasn't looking for a lifetime with you
I wasn't expecting to be with you forever
And I never thought it would hurt just to hear "I do" and "I do"
I never imagined that hearing you say 'I do' would hurt me so much
And I do a number on myself
I sabotage myself
And all that I thought to be
Everything I believed in
And you'll be the one that just left me undone by my own hesitation
You left me feeling unfinished because of my own indecisiveness
And for the million hours that we were
For all the time we spent together
Well I'll smile and remember it all
I'll remember it fondly and try to stay positive
Then I'll turn and go
But then I'll move on
While your story's completed mine is a long way from done.
You're done with our story, but I still have a ways to go
Well I'm on a champagne high
I'm feeling good and celebratory
Where will I be when I stop wondering why
I wonder where I'll be once I've stopped questioning everything
I'd toast to the future but that'd be a lie
I can't honestly toast to the future
Spring turned to summer
Time passed
But then winter turned to mean
But then things got cold and harsh
The distance seemed right
It felt like the right choice to be apart
At the time it was best - to leave
Leaving was the right choice then
And to leave behind what I once thought was fine
I left behind what I used to think was great
And so real - to me
It used to feel so true to me
And while I'm still gone on the quest for my song
While I'm still out here searching for my purpose
I'm at your celebration
I'm here at your party
Your wagon's been hitched to a star
You've found someone special
Well now he'll be your thing that's new
You've moved on to someone new
Yeah what little I have you can borrow
You can take what little I have left
'Cause I'm old and I'm blue
Because I'm feeling lonely and down
So high so high you left me undone
You left me feeling incomplete and unfulfilled
So high, so high you left me undone
You left me feeling unfinished
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW COPELAND, JEFF BERES, KEN BLOCK, MARK E. TROJANOWSKI, RYAN CARTER NEWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kayelle4
That background "high" harmony at 4:00 has lived in my head rent free for ages.
@wadewiggins1928
One of the most underrated bands of the past 20 years easily
@suzannemichellefrench4970
You are so right!
@metallicajames26
Damn straight. Hazelnut for life!!
@eeeeemeeee9047
Correct! I'm introducing my kids to them in 2 weeks. They're coming to my small town to do a concert and I'm so excited. Easily my favorite band to see in concert
@sixsentsoldiers
Underated? Hell they had there time. Hits. What else you want? Especially in a time the music industry was drawing its last breath.
@hollihaddock6106
Totally agree
@SunnyBloxOG
This song is SO incredible and one of the best songs ever written. The tight harmonies and passionate lyrics create amazing melodic intricacies that very few songs ever find. The rich timbre of Ken's voice, Drew's harmony and the driving beat during the bridge is total and complete musical genius. I have been a Hazel Nut for over 20 years and every time I hear this song, I fall in love with this extraordinary band all over again. I could listen to this song every day several times and never, ever get tired of it. Absolute musical bliss.
@tayoriginal4067
This one and Your Winter! Ugh I love them.
@FairytaleOfNY
This epic song and Sister Hazel as the legendary late sportscaster Stuart Scott would say, are "Cooler than the other side of the pillow!" R.I.P. Stuart Scott