In The Spirit Of The Season - Part II

Sister Hazel's Rescue Mission is a shelter in Gainesville, Florida. It's also the inspiration for a college band that took her name and made good, while doing good.

Front man Ken Block grew up watching Sister Hazel open up her house to anyone in need. Block recalls asking his mom if the people she helps pay her, and his mom answered no, she does it for free. "Even as a kid that struck me as something very cool," he says. "She gives regardless of your race or religion or anything. She has this sprirt of unconditional regard for anyone." When it came time to name his band, Ken considered what message he wanted the band to project. Sister Hazel personified that message.

Fifteen years later, Sister Hazel still feeds the hungry, clothes the poor and shelters the homeless as the Gainesville Sun reports. For its part, Sister Hazel (the band) has, from day one, encouraged their fans to support The Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society, STOP! Children's Cancer, Inc., Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, the Muscular Distrophy Association, and of course, the Sister Hazel Williams and Angel of Mercy Rescue Mission. In 2000, they founded Lyrics for Life, a non-profit organization through which they draw together other musicians for an ongoing series of concerts and auctions to benefit efforts to cure cancer and other serious illness. (With the very cool idea of auctioning off handwritten lyrics donated by tons of great artists, many scribbled on creatively chosen memorabilia).

In addition to the more polished "Change Your Mind," I've included a more obscure cut from their first (self-published) indie album entitled "Look to the Children" (full lyrics below). Much of the drive behind lead singer Ken Block's charitable work comes from his own life's intersection with cancer - his brother was diagnosed at age 14 and died at age 18. "Look to the Children" captures the his own pain and rebirth.

Change Your Mind - Sister Hazel / Fortress






Look to the Children - Sister Hazel / Somewhere More Familiar

I took a walk by the sea
Nothing else -- just for me
Yesterday was a long, long time ago
There's a man and he's sighing
It's all he's got to keep from crying
His shattered dreams
Have been worn down by life

And I wonder now
How a man gets so far down
Where's the pride and the glory
Where's the pot of gold

And I ... I look to the children

I took a walk by the sea
I'd forgotten what it meant to be me
Some things we should carry from the past
There's a boy and he's singin'
And in the wind his words are ringin'
His innocence, it is buried in us all

Now I look and see
That boy inside of me
May have seen a storm or two
But the dream is alive

And I ... I look to the children
I look to the children

I look around
So many so far down
Just search inside yourself
'Cause the dream's alive

And I ... I look to the children
I look to the children