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
Fade
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Held tight to your own backslide
You said it's just too hard for you to explain
The weight that breaks the back of those who just can't change
I watched you spin yourself around this town
I'm not going to be the one who weights you back down to the ground
Just to see you smile back at me
I couldn't see through
All the things I let get in the way
Into the last phase
Bend it til it breaks
I stand and watch you fade
Fade
I just ignore your concerns
I pushed you into this, now the tables are burned
Should we go to where you decided you would change?
I don't want to be the one who's there to complain when you're down
Just to see you smile back at me
Where did you go to?
I couldn't see through
All the things I let get in the way
Into the last phase
Bend it til it breaks
I stand and watch you fade
Where did you go to?
I couldn't see through
All the things I let get in the way
Oh, into the last phase
Bend it til it breaks
I stand and watch you fade
I couldn't see through
The questions you ask her
Invite disaster
I stand and watch you fade
Fade
Sister Hazel's song "Fade" deals with the theme of a strained relationship that is gradually falling apart. The singer in the song confronts their partner who seems to have unresolved issues they are struggling to communicate. Instead, the partner is withdrawing and resisting any help or support. You pushed me to the side, held tight to your own backslide, the singer accuses their partner of neglecting their relationship and not opening up to them. Despite trying to help, they are met with resistance as their partner continues to spiral out of control. I watched you spin yourself around this town, I'm not going to be the one who weights you back down to the ground echoes the singer's desire to help but at the same time, they refuse to be the cause of their partner's downfall. The frustration is palpable with the repeated questioning, "Where did you go to?" and the plea to change, "bend it til it breaks." The song ends with the realization that the relationship is fading away, the singer stands and watches their partner fade.
One interesting fact about Sister Hazel's song "Fade" is that the album from which it is taken, "Fortress," was a self-released album. The band created their own label, Croakin' Poets, and released the album independently after ending their contract with Universal Records.
Another interesting fact is that "Fortress" was recorded in a house in the Florida panhandle that the band converted into a recording studio. They called it "The Beach House."
Additionally, Sister Hazel has been known to experiment with different genres of music. "Fade" is a departure from their usual upbeat rock music and contains elements of alternative and grunge.
The lyrics of "Fade" were written by the lead vocalist of Sister Hazel, Ken Block, who also co-wrote all of the songs on the album "Fortress."
During live shows, Sister Hazel sometimes changes the tempo of "Fade," giving it a slower or faster pace. This makes each performance unique and exciting for fans.
Singer-songwriter, Will Hoge covered "Fade" on his album, "The Wreckage." The cover version adds a country rock feel to the song.
In interviews, Sister Hazel has revealed that "Fade" is one of their most emotional and personal songs. The band members have shared that they have experienced similar situations in their lives, making it a relatable song for many fans.
"Fade" has been included in several movie soundtracks, including the 2001 romantic comedy "Summer Catch."
The chords of "Fade" are as follows: G, D, Am, C, Em.
In 2020, Sister Hazel performed a virtual concert to raise money for the pandemic relief efforts of the non-profit organization, Feeding America. They included "Fade" in their setlist.
Line by Line Meaning
You pushed me to the side
You ignored my needs and focused on yourself
Held tight to your own backslide
You clung to your bad habits and refused to change for the better
You said it's just too hard for you to explain
You made excuses for your behavior and didn't take responsibility for your actions
The weight that breaks the back of those who just can't change
The burden of old habits is too heavy for those who refuse to change
I watched you spin yourself around this town
I observed you going in circles and not making progress in your life
I'm not going to be the one who weights you back down to the ground
I won't hold you back from making positive changes in your life
Just to see you smile back at me
I want you to be happy, even if it means we are no longer together
Where did you go to?
What happened to you?
All the things I let get in the way
My own actions and mistakes hindered our relationship
Into the last phase
We have reached the end of what we can do for each other
Bend it til it breaks
Push it to the limit until it falls apart
I stand and watch you fade
I can only stand by and watch as you slip away from me
I just ignore your concerns
I didn't listen to you when you needed me to listen
I pushed you into this, now the tables are burned
I'm the reason we ended up like this, and now the situation is beyond repair
Should we go to where you decided you would change?
Are we supposed to go back to the place where you promised to change?
I don't want to be the one who's there to complain when you're down
I don't want to be the one who is negative when you're trying to make progress
The questions you ask her
The doubts and uncertainties you have about your future
Invite disaster
Are a recipe for disaster
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
myvampire3000
real nice