Hawk Nelson was formed in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 2003 by Jason Du… Read Full Bio ↴Hawk Nelson was formed in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 2003 by Jason Dunn, Dave Clark, Matt Paige, and Daniel Biro.

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.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Hawk Nelson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Overall Meaning

The song "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" is a celebratory anthem about the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The opening lines describe the angels singing about the newborn King and praising him with the words "Glory to the newborn King!" This phrase is repeated throughout the entire song as a refrain. The lyrics also touch on the theme of peace on earth and mercy from God, which reflects the notion of redemption through Christ's birth. Additionally, it refers to the concept of salvation through Christ's message "God and sinners reconciled." The final lines of the first verse urge the nations to join in proclaiming Christ's birth with the angelic host.

The second verse of the song expands on the first by highlighting Christ's divine nature as the "Christ by highest heav'n adored" and "the everlasting Lord." Then, it describes how He came to earth as a human being, born of a virgin in Bethlehem. The verse emphasizes Christ's humility and sacrifice as he "lays His glory by" to be born as a human so that "man no more may die" through Christ's ability to "raise the sons of earth" and "give them second birth" by way of salvation. The final refrain reinforces the message that Jesus Christ is the Lord and deserves adoration and worship from all.

Line by Line Meaning

Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the joyful songs of the angels who herald the arrival of the new King

"Glory to the newborn King!
Praise and honor be given to the new King who is born

Peace on earth and mercy mild
May peace and mercy come to Earth for all

God and sinners reconciled"
God has made peace with sinners

Joyful, all ye nations rise
All nations, be happy and stand up

Join the triumph of the skies
Be part of the victory celebration in the heavens

With the angelic host proclaim:
Along with the angels, announce to all

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
The Savior, Christ, is born in Bethlehem

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Jesus is revered by the highest levels of heaven

Christ the everlasting Lord!
Jesus is the Lord who is enduring forever

Late in time behold Him come
After a long wait, at last Jesus arrived