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
Elvis
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll go on my wordless way
Don't say anything
Say nothing, just leave me.
I've been merely, an actor
In your painful play.
But I feel too much to stay.
[Chorus]
You can have the pictures
You can have the jacked up car.
And take the book on meditation
I'll just take home what I brought,
My, big painted velvet Elvis...
Well take it away
Take it all away
Don't leave anything
Leave nothing, except me
'Cause I've been sadly misinformed
I thought it mattered a little more than this
I wish I was a thousand miles away...
[Chorus]
Well I'm frozen here
Caged in silence
It's better that I
Regret these words
Than to stand aside
And watch your tragic
Storyline unfold...
Just let me go
[Chorus]
Well you took my heart
And you took my soul
And you used me,
I've had plenty of that.
It gets harder and harder
And farther and farther
From what I need for me.
The lyrics to Sister Hazel's song "Elvis" depict a person who has been participating in a toxic and painful relationship. The song expresses the desire to leave and break free from this emotional trap. The singer of the song is feeling overwhelmed by the drama and is ready to go on their own wordless way. They implore their partner to not say anything and just let them leave.
The lyrics depict a feeling of being used and undervalued in the relationship. The singer likens themselves to an actor in a painful play, and laments that they feel too much to stay. They don't want to be part of the drama anymore, and just want to escape. The chorus reinforces this idea of escape, with the singer willing to leave everything behind except for their big painted velvet Elvis.
The last verse shows the depth of the hurt and damage that has been wrought in the relationship. The singer has given their heart and soul to the other person, and feels like they were used and discarded. The pain is getting harder and harder to bear, and the singer wants to be free from it all. The song ends with the plea to just let them go, and the idea that it's better to regret leaving than to stay and watch the tragedy unfold.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll go away
I will depart and distance myself from you.
I'll go on my wordless way
I will leave silently and without explanation.
Don't say anything
Please refrain from speaking.
Say nothing, just leave me.
Do not communicate with me, just let me go.
I've been merely, an actor
I have been playing a role in your emotional drama.
In your painful play.
In your distressing circumstances.
But I feel too much to stay.
I am too affected by the situation to remain.
Just cast me out.
Please reject me and remove me from your life.
You can have the pictures
You are welcome to keep the photographs.
You can have the jacked up car.
You may keep the flashy vehicle.
And take the book on meditation
Take the guide to inner peace and reflection.
I'll just take home what I brought,
I will retrieve only what I brought with me.
My, big painted velvet Elvis...
Except for the cherished Elvis Presley painting.
Well take it away
Please remove it.
Take it all away
Remove everything that belongs to you.
Don't leave anything
Do not leave anything behind.
Leave nothing, except me
Take everything except for me.
'Cause I've been sadly misinformed
I have been misled and wrong about something.
I thought it mattered a little more than this
I believed the situation was more significant than it is.
I wish I was a thousand miles away...
I desire to be far away from here and this situation.
Well I'm frozen here
I am stagnant and unable to move.
Caged in silence
Trapped in a lack of communication.
It's better that I
It is preferable for me.
Regret these words
Feel remorseful for speaking out.
Than to stand aside
Instead of being passive about the situation.
And watch your tragic
And witness misery and distress.
Storyline unfold...
Narrative progress and develop.
Just let me go
Allow me to part from you.
Well you took my heart
You have stolen my affection and love.
And you took my soul
You have taken my spirit and essence.
And you used me,
You have manipulated and exploited me.
I've had plenty of that.
I have experienced enough of that behavior.
It gets harder and harder
It becomes increasingly challenging.
And farther and farther
And more and more distant.
From what I need for me.
From the things necessary for my well-being and happiness.
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