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
Take It Back
Sister Hazel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Opened to a world I've never seen before
I'm saddened, sickened, silenced by the sound I am hearing
By the stories you're telling just to bring me down
You once were so good
But turned so bad
You think that you're right
Take it back
Turn around
Keep on walking towards that new life that you found
Take it back
It's all yours
Just remember I won't be here anymore
Sinking down the steps of your secret life
I'm sipping on the poison of your lies
Dragged, beaten, blinded by all your pretending
By the web that you're spinning just to keep me down
You once were so good
But turned so bad
You think that you're right
It's all so sad
Take it back
Turn around
Keep on walking towards that new life that you found
Take it back
It's all yours
Just remember I won't be here anymore
So, stop trying to make it all feel right
You're lying, does it eat you up inside?
It's compromising me with every word
I'm recognizing that your love was only yours
Take it back
Turn around
Keep on walking towards that new life that you found
Take it back
It's all yours
Just remember, now, that I won't be here
Take it back
Turn around
Keep on walking towards that new life that you found
Take it back
It's all yours
Just remember, now, that I won't be here anymore
I won't be here
The lyrics of Sister Hazel's song Take It Back conveys the idea of someone who is disappointed with a person they thought they knew well. The first verse describes the singer's emotions as they seem to have been led down a path of confusion and dismay. The maze of the wonderland represents the complicated thoughts and feelings within the singer that they can't seem to escape from. The world they're experiencing is unlike anything they have come across before, but it's not a good thing. The singer is sad, sickened, and silenced by the sound of the stories the person is telling them. These stories aim to bring the singer's morale down.
The second verse describes the singer's situation in more detail. The person they thought was once good has turned bad. The singer is frustrated and sad that this person is so convinced that they are correct in their actions. The chorus expresses the singer's desire to stop following this person down this path and to detach themselves from the chaos. They want to reclaim their life and let go of the negativity that this person brings to their life. The bridge gives a final warning to the person, indicating that their lies and deceit are becoming too much to bear, and the singer recognizes that the love they once shared was only one-sided.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying in the maze of your wonderland
Being lost in the confusing and disorienting world that you have created
Opened to a world I've never seen before
Experiencing something totally new and unfamiliar
I'm saddened, sickened, silenced by the sound I am hearing
Feeling upset, disgusted, and speechless because of what I am hearing from you
By the stories you're telling just to bring me down
Being hurt by the lies and negative things you are saying about me
You once were so good
In the past, you were a good person
But turned so bad
But you have changed for the worse
You think that you're right
You believe that your actions and words are justified
It's all so sad
But it is actually very disheartening and regretful
Take it back
Undo the harm you have caused
Turn around
Change direction and start fresh
Keep on walking towards that new life that you found
Continue on the path of self-improvement that you have discovered
It's all yours
You have the power to take control of your life
Just remember I won't be here anymore
But remember that I will not be a part of it
Sinking down the steps of your secret life
Going deeper into the hidden, deceitful part of your existence
I'm sipping on the poison of your lies
Being negatively affected by the falsehoods and deceit that you have been spreading
Dragged, beaten, blinded by all your pretending
Being forced to endure your lies and facades, feeling weakened and overwhelmed
By the web that you're spinning just to keep me down
Getting entangled in the complicated traps and schemes you are using to hold me back
So, stop trying to make it all feel right
Stop pretending that everything is okay
You're lying, does it eat you up inside?
Are you being tormented by your own lies?
It's compromising me with every word
Your lies are causing damage to my relationship with you every time you speak
I'm recognizing that your love was only yours
Realizing that you never truly cared for me, but only cared about yourself
Just remember, now, that I won't be here
Keep in mind that I have decided to leave
Just remember, now, that I won't be here anymore
Acknowledge that I have chosen to cut you out of my life moving forward
Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.