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
Just Remember
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once surrounded by the walls of work
By laughter and by love
The sound of children playing
I love you, yeah you
A crooked tree stands naked near the center of the field
Barely rooted in the browns and grays
A place long since forgotten
In a world of yesterday
Except by me, yeah me
And Oh, whose plan was this anyway
And I never thought "He" would want it to be that way
It once was beautiful, right here
It still is beautiful, in here
You once were beautiful, I hear
I hear it can be beautiful
Just remember
A twisted little image in your perfect little world
Of the chapter where it'd all begun
About a song already sung
Burnt around the edges
Nearly faded, nearly gone
Even you, yeah you
A shiny building standing in the center of today
Where indifferent people go to work
Go about their pay
Knowing they've forgotten
In a most convenient way
Yesterday, away
And Oh, whose plan was this anyway
And I never thought "He" would want it to be that way
It once was beautiful, right here
It still is beautiful, in here
You once were beautiful, I hear
I hear it can be beautiful
Just remember
And Oh, whose plan was this anyway
And I never thought "He" would want it to be that way
It once was beautiful, right here
It still is beautiful, in here
You once were beautiful, I hear
I hear it can be beautiful
Just remember
It once was beautiful, right here
It still is beautiful, in here
You once were beautiful, I hear
I hear it can be beautiful
Just remember
The lyrics to Sister Hazel's song "Just Remember" are a contemplation on the passage of time and the changing nature of the world around us. The song begins with a description of a crooked chimney standing alone in the middle of a field, surrounded by memories of the past; laughter and love and the sound of children playing. The image of the chimney and its surroundings is then contrasted with that of a twisted tree, almost uprooted, in the same field. This image represents the present, a place long forgotten but remembered only by the singer.
The lyrics then shift to the idea of a shiny building, representing the modern world, where people go to work and forget about the past. The singer questions whose plan this was and wonders how life could have taken such a turn. Yet the beauty and the memories of the past still exist, even if they are not visible from the outside. The chorus repeats the phrase "It once was beautiful, right here. It still is beautiful, in here. You once were beautiful, I hear. I hear it can be beautiful. Just remember," reminding us that beauty is not always visible on the surface and that we must hold on to memories and feelings of love and hope even in the midst of change and loss.
Overall, the song is a meditation on the past, present, and future, and the importance of holding onto those things that give us meaning and a sense of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
A crooked chimney standing in the middle of a field
A lonely, crooked chimney stands alone in a field, once surrounded by the buzz of work and the warmth of human connection.
Once surrounded by the walls of work
The chimney stood in the midst of a bustling, productive environment - surrounded by walls that held a community together.
By laughter and by love
People used to inhabit the area, laughing, loving, and creating fond memories amidst the activity.
The sound of children playing
Kids could be heard running, laughing, and having a great time in the area's vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.
I love you, yeah you
A tender moment shared between two people amidst the bustling activity of the place.
A crooked tree stands naked near the center of the field
A lonely, twisted tree occupies the field now - its roots struggling to hold on in the barren landscape.
Barely rooted in the browns and grays
The tree's roots cling to the desolate earth where lush, greenery once thrived - its existence uncertain.
Of earth that once was green
The area where the tree stands was once a rich, thriving ecosystem - now lost to time.
A place long since forgotten
The area has fallen into obscurity and is no longer remembered by most.
In a world of yesterday
This place belongs to another time - a world that once was and will never be again.
Except by me, yeah me
But the memories of that time still live on for one person - a testament to the importance of the place.
And Oh, whose plan was this anyway
The song's narrator questions why things have turned out the way they have, wondering about the universe's grand design.
And I never thought "He" would want it to be that way
The singer expresses disbelief at the way things have turned out, even questioning the intentions of a higher power.
It once was beautiful, right here
Reminiscing about the past, the singer recognizes that this place was once beautiful and full of life.
It still is beautiful, in here
Despite its current state, the memories of this place still hold beauty in the singer's heart.
You once were beautiful, I hear
Similarly, the artist is reminded of the beauty of a past relationship or connection - even though it may be lost now.
I hear it can be beautiful
The artist holds onto hope that beauty can still exist, even if it's hard to see in the present moment.
Just remember
The song's theme - a call to remember brighter times and hold out hope for the future despite the challenges of the present.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: ANDREW COPELAND, JEFF BERES, KEN BLOCK, MARK E. TROJANOWSKI, RYAN CARTER NEWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind