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
Surreal
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can breathe to stay alive
But I'll try a little harder
If you want me to survive
Won't somebody tell me?
How I got to this stage?
When consequence is inconsequential
Staring in the spotlight
Is better than real life
It's been surreal, how do you feel
When the seas part before your eyes
It's just so real how does it feel
When the stars that follow die
With my head above the water
I could drift along, beyond the tides
But I can try a little harder
If you help me to reach the other side.
It's been surreal, how do you feel
When the colors have left you blind
It's just so real how does it feel
To have left yourself behind
The lyrics of Sister Hazel's song Surreal are open to interpretation, but there seems to be a theme of struggling to maintain control while being thrust into the spotlight. The opening lines "With my head above the water, I can breathe to stay alive" suggest that the singer is barely able to keep themselves afloat, as if they are barely holding on to life itself. But they also promise to "try a little harder" if someone else wants them to survive. This could be interpreted as a cry for help, showing that the singer is willing to put in more effort if they feel that there is someone who believes in them.
The second verse seems to explore the source of the singer's struggles. They ask, "Won't somebody tell me how I got to this stage?" suggesting that they are disoriented and confused. They go on to say that "consequence is inconsequential," which could mean that they feel as though they are beyond the reach of normal consequences. This could be a reference to some kind of addiction or self-destructive behavior. They also suggest that "staring in the spotlight is better than real life," indicating that they are seeking some sort of escape from their troubles.
The chorus seems to express a sense of awe at the surreal experience of being in the public eye. The imagery of "seas parting before your eyes" and "stars that follow[ing] dying" suggest that the singer is experiencing something that is both powerful and temporary. They seem to question the reality of their experience, wondering how it feels to have been "left behind" or to have the "colors" of life become meaningless.
Overall, Surreal seems to be a song about struggling to maintain control while being thrust into the spotlight. The lyrics suggest that the singer is searching for meaning and stability in a world that seems to be slipping away from them. The song is an exploration of the surreal experience of fame and the ways in which it can be both thrilling and destabilizing.
Line by Line Meaning
With my head above the water
Despite struggling, I am managing to keep my head above my problems.
I can breathe to stay alive
Although I am under stress, I am capable of handling it enough to live.
But I'll try a little harder
I am willing to push myself to succeed if the motivation is there.
If you want me to survive
I need someone to push me to overcome the struggles that I face.
Won't somebody tell me?
I am seeking clarity and insight into how I got into this difficult predicament.
How I got to this stage?
I want to know how I ended up in this situation where I am struggling.
When consequence is inconsequential
I feel like the repercussions of my actions are not severe enough to steer me away from my struggles.
And Staring in the spotlight
Being the center of attention becomes more important than your real life when you're in hard times.
Is better than real life
They prefer to be seen, noticed, and have that momentary attention to distract from their tough reality.
It's been surreal, how do you feel
The overwhelming surreal experience can leave you unsure and questioning everything around you.
When the seas part before your eyes
An impressive feat or accomplishment can make you feel as though everything is going exactly as planned.
It's just so real how does it feel
The realization of the hard work and substantial accomplishment of this surreal experience can be overwhelming and leave them questioning if it is real.
When the stars that follow die
Seeing the fleeting nature of good or the highs of life can be disappointing when they don't last long.
I could drift along, beyond the tides
Without effort in the face of dilemmas, one could allow themselves to just go with the flow and be carried away by the tide.
But I can try a little harder
I am not ready to give up, and I want to keep fighting while working toward a solution.
If you help me to reach the other side.
I am asking for help to get through this hard time to reach the other side of it and come out the other end stronger.
When the colors have left you blind
The colorful and exciting parts of life lose their luster when experiencing difficulty, making it hard to find joy in everyday things.
To have left yourself behind
In the face of tribulations in your life, you can start to feel as if you have changed so much that you don't even recognize yourself anymore.
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