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.
First Time
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sit around wasting time, feel like the poster for a
Self-help line
Will we know the truth when we're older
[Chorus]
For the first time in my whole life
I'm not afraid of feeling alive
And nothing out there will change my mind
Lets start over crimson clover
While these golden nights get colder
If I could press rewind
Turn on record and leave the past behind
Will we know the truth when we're older
[Chorus]
If you find me
Will you remind me
We're one step closer
Two steps closer
Whoa whoa whoa
For the first time in my whole life
I'm not afraid of feeling alive
For the last time I'm falling behind
And nothing out there will change me
For the first time in my whole life
I'm not afraid of feeling alive
For the last time I'm falling behind
And nothing out there will change me
[Chorus]
The song "First Time" by Hawk Nelson explores the theme of self-discovery and embracing life without fear. The lyrics are about taking chances, moving forward, and letting go of the past. The first verse describes feeling stuck and wasting time, like a poster child for a self-help line. The singer wonders if they will know the truth when they're older. The chorus repeats the lines "For the first time in my whole life I'm not afraid of feeling alive," expressing a newfound sense of freedom and excitement. The second verse encourages starting over and experiencing new things, while leaving the past behind. The bridge asks for a reminder to stay on track and move forward, and repeats the idea of getting two steps closer.
Line by Line Meaning
Stepping over two steps closer
Moving forward incrementally, but with purpose and determination
I sit around wasting time, feel like the poster for a self-help line
I'm idling away my time, feeling like I'm an advertisement for people in need of guidance
Will we know the truth when we're older
As we age, will we be able to perceive reality as it is?
For the first time in my whole life I'm not afraid of feeling alive
I'm experiencing genuine emotion without fear for the first time ever
For the last time I'm falling behind And nothing out there will change my mind
I won't be deterred in my pursuit of progress despite past failures
Lets start over crimson clover, While these golden nights get colder, If I could press rewind, Turn on record and leave the past behind
Let's begin anew amidst the beauty of nature, and if I could, I'd erase the past and capture the fresh start permanently
If you find me, Will you remind me, We're one step closer, Two steps closer, Whoa whoa whoa
If we reunite, will you encourage me to press on, even if it's just a small step at a time?
And nothing out there will change me
I'm determined to stay true to myself regardless of external factors
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NIAN BRINDLE, JAMES FRASER, MATTHEW NELSON, SIMON NELSON, BARNEY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind