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.
CRAZY LOVE
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This home, this body this in between
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies
Love enemies
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
Crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of crazy love
We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, gonna live to serve
Cause when you get what you get when you walk by faith
Is it really so dumb to give it all away?
Give it all away
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of
Crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of crazy love
Crazy love
We know it sounds absurd
We don't get what we deserve
It's by grace we are saved
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of
Crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby, it's all because
Of crazy love
Crazy love
We're the ones who believe in the things unseen
This home, this party this in between
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies
We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, gonna live to serve
Give it all away
Crazy love
The lyrics to Hawk Nelson's song "Crazy Love" speak to the paradoxical nature of living life as a Christian in this world. The song acknowledges the disbelief and ridicule that Christians often face from society, but instead of cowering at the thought, the lyrics celebrate the crazy, unconditional love that Christianity stands for. The singer affirms that they are one of the "ones who believe in the things unseen," and that they are willing to put their faith into action, even in the midst of persecution. The lyrics speak of fighting on one's knees and loving one's enemies, a nod to the Christian principle of nonviolence and forgiveness.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "They say it sounds insane, we say that we've been changed by the power of crazy love." Here, the singer is acknowledging the disconnect between society's perception of Christianity and their own experience of it. The phrase "crazy love" is a testament to the awe-inspiring, transformative power of faith. The song encourages listeners to embrace this love, even if it goes against what is expected or accepted by the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We're the ones who believe in the things unseen
We believe in things that are not visible to the naked eye, such as faith and hope.
This home, this body this in between
We acknowledge the in-between state of our human bodies and the importance of home and community.
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
We battle our inner demons and struggles through prayer and submission.
Who dare to love our enemies
We choose to love those who have hurt or wronged us, even if it seems unnatural.
Love enemies
Our message is all about loving despite differences and similarities, and we hope to share this with the world.
They say it sounds insane
Society may view our beliefs and practices as crazy or ridiculous.
We say that we've been changed
We have been transformed by the power of love and grace.
By the power of
Crazy love
Love is a powerful force that has the ability to change our lives completely.
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
People often judge us based on our beliefs and actions, not always in a positive light.
Baby, it's all because
Of crazy love
Our love may seem crazy to others, but it is rooted in the idea of loving unconditionally, just as we have been loved by our Creator.
We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, gonna live to serve
We will live counter-culturally by prioritizing others over ourselves and serve in humility.
Cause when you get what you get when you walk by faith
Is it really so dumb to give it all away?
Living by faith requires sacrificing our own desires and expectations, but we believe it's worth it because of the love we share.
We know it sounds absurd
We don't get what we deserve
It's by grace we are saved
We recognize that our beliefs are radical and that we are undeserving of the love and salvation we have received, but it's all because of grace.
Give it all away
We will give everything we have to those in need, because that is what love and sacrifice is all about.
Crazy love
Our love is wild, unconventional, and challenging, but it's also the most powerful force in the world.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Ian Eskelin, Daniel Biro, Jason Dunn, Tony Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sebastian nuñez gutierrez
We're the ones who
Believe in the things unseen
This home, this body is the in-between
We're the ones who fight
Down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies
Love enemies
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby it's all because of crazy love
We're the ones gonna put
It all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves
Gonna live to serve
Cuz' when ya get what ya get
When you walk by faith
Is it really so dumb to give it all away
Give it all away
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby it's all because of crazy love
Crazy Love
We know it sounds absurd
We don't get what we deserve
It's by grace we are saved
They say it sounds insane
We say that we've been changed
By the power of crazy love
This world, it looks at us
Like we're ridiculous
Baby it's all because of crazy love
Crazy Love
Crazy Love
We're the ones who believe in the things unseen
This home, this body is the in-between
We're the ones who fight down on our knees
Who dare to love our enemies
We're the ones gonna put it all in reverse
Gonna die to ourselves, gonna live to serve
Crazy Love
layton tapley
I just bought this album last night. It is so amazing. I listened each song more than ounce. Your music is great hawk nelson. Thank you and god bless.
Calebe Queiroz
muito fera uma das melhores banda q eu ja vi parabés
na191able
words cannot describe how much i love this song
JewelOfJupiter
I love Hawk Nelson!! <3 I have all of their CDs and I love all of their songs, but I have to say that this song is one of my absolute favorites!!! ^^
Samuel Mateo, Jr.
These guys are hilarious. Saw them play this song live last fall and they are just as good maybe better live. CRAZY LOVE!!!
Michael Raspanti
Thank you Lord , for such an insane love for me, that you would spill your blood for me! The world may not get it, but I do!
ILoveJoBros4Yever
LOVE THEM & THIS SONG!!! Me & my sister dance to it when we hear it on the radio in the car
DustyChica25
This song was phenomenal live.
Ryan Sinclair
I love this song! God be blessed.
Kassandra Perez
I saw them today in concert at the revolve tour, it was epically amazing!!