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
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents underneath the Christmas tree
Woah, yeah
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Well, it's been too long
Since I've made it home, yeah
But when Christmas come
Well, I promise that
I will be there with you, woah, yeah
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I wanna be home for Christmas
If only in, if only in, yeah
If only in my, if only in my dreams
"Sister Hazel (Holiday)'s I'll Be Home For Christmas" is a heartfelt song that captures the essence of Christmas melancholy. It speaks about being away from loved ones during Christmas but wanting to be home for the holiday season. The lyrics poetically describe the longing to be home and revel in the traditional festivities of the season. At the same time, it highlights the need for snow, mistletoe, and presents as part of a complete Christmas experience.
The song begins with the singer's assurance to their loved ones that they will be home for Christmas. The singer is hopeful of being home amidst all things traditional – snow, mistletoe, and Christmas presents. As the song progresses, the singer laments that it has been too long since they went home. However, when Christmas arrives, they assure their loved ones that they will be there to celebrate the holiday with them. The singer sings about the beauty of the light of love that shines during Christmas eve, which will find them where love is pure.
Throughout the song, the lyrics allude to the fact that physically being home may not always be achievable, and hence, they will be home for Christmas, "if only in my dreams." In conclusion, Sister Hazel (Holiday) offers a poignant and soothing song that perfectly captures the feeling of an ideal Christmas, full of warmth, love, and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home for Christmas
I will come back to my home to celebrate Christmas with my loved ones
You can count on me
I promise to not let you down and to make sure to come home for Christmas
Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope there will be beautiful decorations like snow and mistletoe to make the holiday festive
And presents underneath the Christmas tree
I hope there will be gifts for everyone under the Christmas tree
Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams
On Christmas Eve, I will be where there is love and warmth with my family and friends
I'll tell you now I'll be home for Christmas
I want to reassure you that I will definitely be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if I can't make it in person, I will be there in my thoughts and dreams
Well, it's been too long Since I've made it home
It has been a while since I have been home for Christmas
But when Christmas come
However, when Christmas arrives
Well, I promise that I will be there with you
I promise to be there with my loved ones to celebrate the holiday
Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams
On Christmas Eve, I will be where there is love and warmth with my family and friends
I wanna be home for Christmas
I really want to be home for Christmas
If only in, if only in, yeah If only in my, if only in my dreams
Again, even if I can't be there in person, I will be there in spirit and in my thoughts and dreams
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GANNON & KENT MUSIC CO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buck Ram, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind