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.
Never Enough
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And other days I would just rather be alone
Some days I feel like the whole world is waiting on an answer
I've been caught under the radar so help me please
It's been that kind of day so just go away
And let the machine say what I want it to say
It's never enough, it keeps getting tough
Some days I just don't wanna leave my home
And other days I'm alive like a rolling stone
Sometimes I feel so insignificant like it doesn't really even matter
And I know that we all make mistakes
'Cause I'm guilty as charged with a case of foot in mouth disease
So help me see clearly as I try to just get myself to a place where my lens can adjust
The lyrics of Hawk Nelson's song Never Enough speak to the struggles of daily life, such as the rollercoaster of social interaction and the feeling of insignificance. The first verse describes the experience of fluctuating between wanting to connect with others through the phone and desiring alone time. The second half of the verse reflects on the pressure of being responsive to the world's demands, leading to the plea for help to get out from under the radar.
The chorus of the song expresses the feeling of never being enough, no matter how hard one tries. The desire to hear a loved one's voice is stronger than the desire to isolate, but communication is hindered by disruptions in the connection. The second verse continues the theme of internal conflict, with the singer oscillating between wanting to stay in the comfort of home and feeling alive and free to roam. The final line of the verse acknowledges the feeling of insignificance that can plague someone in their everyday life.
The bridge refers to the universal experience of making mistakes and saying things we regret later. The singer is asking for clarity as they try to adjust their perspective and find a place within which they can grow.
Line by Line Meaning
Some days I spend all day on the phone
Some days, I spend the whole day talking to people over the phone.
And other days I would just rather be alone
Other days, I prefer to be by myself and not talk to anyone.
Some days I feel like the whole world is waiting on an answer
There are days when I feel like everyone is waiting for me to give them an answer to something.
I've been caught under the radar so help me please
I feel like I've been overlooked or not acknowledged, so I need someone's help.
It's been that kind of day so just go away
Today has been rough, so please leave me alone for now.
And let the machine say what I want it to say
I'll let my voicemail say what I want to say because I don't feel like talking.
It's never enough, it keeps getting tough
No matter what I do, it never seems like enough and things keep getting harder.
I wanna listen to your voice but it keeps breaking up
I want to hear your voice, but the connection is bad and I can't hear you clearly.
Some days I just don't wanna leave my home
There are days when I don't want to leave my house and just stay in.
And other days I'm alive like a rolling stone
But then there are days when I feel alive and adventurous.
Sometimes I feel so insignificant like it doesn't really even matter
At times, I feel like I don't matter and what I do isn't important.
And I know that we all make mistakes
I understand that everyone makes errors.
'Cause I'm guilty as charged with a case of foot in mouth disease
I admit that I've said things I shouldn't have and regretted them later.
So help me see clearly as I try to just get myself to a place where my lens can adjust
Please assist me in seeing things clearly as I work on myself and try to adjust my perspective.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert James Smith, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, Simon Johnathon Gallup
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind