The band played independently in Peterborough, Ontario for a few years before they signed with Tooth and Nail Records, largely on the recommendation of Trevor McNevan, the lead singer of fellow Tooth and Nail bands Thousand Foot Krutch and FM Static. McNevan, also from Peterborough, is credited with discovering the band. In July of 2004, Hawk Nelson released their major label debut Letters to the President. It was produced by Aaron Sprinkle and McNevan, who also co-wrote the album's fourteen songs. He has also appeared on some of the band's songs, as well as in their video for the song "California". In October 2005, the band re-released Letters to the President, with new material including their cover of The Who's My Generation, three acoustic versions of some of their hits, and a limited edition cover. Dave Clark was replaced by Jonathan Steingard on guitar in 2004.
The band released their second studio album, titled Smile, It's The End of the World, on April 4, 2006. The album's first single, "Everything You Ever Wanted", went on to hit #1 for 9 weeks on the R&R Christian CHR chart, and was the fourth most played song of 2006. Hawk Nelson released a 3-track Christmas EP titled Gloria on November 21, 2006.
In 2007, Aaron Tosti (who had joined the band to replace Matt Paige on drums) left the band to pursue other musical ventures and was replaced by Justin Benner. Justin had previously toured with Hawk Nelson before with The Send. Hawk Nelson's third full album, Hawk Nelson Is My Friend was released on April 1, 2008, and featured songs co-written by Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, and Richard Marx. The album was nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award in the category for Best Recording Package.
On July 21, 2009, Hawk Nelson released their second single from their fourth album Live Life Loud called "The Meaning Of Life", and on August 8, the song "Alive" began to be played on Christian Radio. They released the album in September of the same year.
Their fifth studio album, Crazy Love, which was released in stores February 8, 2011.
On February 1, 2012, lead vocalist Jason Dunn announced he would be leaving the band, in order to pursue his solo project, Lights Go Down. He is currently recording an album tentatively titled Abandon Progress. On March 11, 2012 in Fresno, California, frontman Jason Dunn performed his final US show with Hawk Nelson.
On December 11, 2012, Hawk Nelson announced they had signed with Fair Trade Services. Made was released on April 2, 2013. The album's release was preceded by the release of the album's debut single on January 15, 2013, "Words", featuring Bart Millard of MercyMe,while "Faithful" was released on September 12, 2013.
Tours
The band spent the summer of 2006 touring the major Christian music festivals. In the winter of 2006, they toured with TobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour along with The Afters, Family Force 5, and Ayiesha Woods. In 2007, Hawk Nelson performed at Winter Jam with a wide variety of other Christian bands, which were Newsong, Jeremy Camp, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sanctus Real, and Britt Nicole. Also, Hawk Nelson toured with MxPx, Run Kid Run, Project 86, The Fold, and The Classic Crime. In January 2008, the band headlined their own tour, that they called the Green T Tour, which also featured Capital Lights and Run Kid Run. In the summer of 2008, Hawk Nelson played their second annual Faith Nights Baseball Tour.
Mainstream Success
The band has achieved some success in the mainstream as well. They portrayed The Who on an episode of the NBC drama American Dreams, and they recorded a song named "Bring 'Em Out" for the 2005 motion picture Yours, Mine, and Ours featuring Drake Bell. This song and another hit song "The Show" were used on Sunday Night Football commercials. "Things We Go Through" from Letters to the President was also featured in Yours, Mine, and Ours. Bulletproof Records and Producer Ralph Sall have assembled the compilation Charlotte's Web (Music Inspired By The Motion Picture) in December 2006, which features "Everything You Ever Wanted" by Hawk Nelson, as well as music by Amy Grant and Billy Ray Cyrus. In 2008, the band also contributed a cover of "Don't You (Forget About Me)", originally by Simple Minds, off the JCPenney Presents: Don't You Forget About Me. The Covers (EP). The song was also featured in back-to-school commercials for J.C. Penney. The song "Live Life Loud" was featured in the trailer for the movie, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules," and was available in the Rock Band store during the first week of April 2010.
14
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You get so lonely after dark
If only we could relive yesterday
Tomorrow always seems so far
Ooo-ooo-ooo-oo x 6
The end is near so much is left to say
The traumatized people are so afraid
I smile 'cause everything's alright.
Ooo-ooo-ooo-oo x 6
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah
Ooo-ooo-ooo-oo x 12
The lyrics of “14” by Hawk Nelson talk about the loneliness that someone feels when the sun goes down and the night sets in. The person is reminiscing about the past and thinking about how they wish they could relive it. They feel like time is moving too quickly, and tomorrow seems so far away. Despite the feelings of loneliness, in the chorus, the person sings “Ooo-ooo-ooo-oo” which could be interpreted as a way to calm themselves down and bring themselves back to the present.
In the second verse, the lyrics become more meaningful as they describe the world as getting colder tonight. The traumatized people are so afraid, but the person singing the song smiles because everything is alright. It could be interpreted as the person putting on a brave face or finding comfort in small things in their life. The repeated “Ooo-ooo-ooo-oo” at the end could be seen as a way of them trying to hold onto that feeling of relief and positivity.
Overall, the song is a contemplative look at life and our human experience. It explores the feeling of loneliness and the desire to relive past moments. The haunting melody coupled with the lyrics creates a somber mood that is easy to get lost in.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun goes down and then she slips away
The day ends and the happiness fades away.
You get so lonely after dark
Loneliness is more felt after the sun sets.
If only we could relive yesterday
The wish to relive the past to change the present or future.
Tomorrow always seems so far
The feeling that tomorrow or future is always distant.
The end is near so much is left to say
The realization of the approaching end while still holding unexpressed thoughts or emotions.
The world is getting cold tonight
The world or situations are getting colder, distant or challenging.
The traumatized people are so afraid
Traumatized individuals feel more fear, anxiety and trauma than normal individuals.
I smile 'cause everything's alright.
Despite difficulties, maintain a positive attitude and pretend to be happy.
Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.