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.
Something On My Mind
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go separate ways,
And leave it long forgotten.
I'll hang my hat, and
I won't be back.
On my way out,
I'm feeling lame.
Am I to blame?
And I won't be back,
What'd ya think of that?
When it feels like life's wastin' away,
I can say: that when
There's something on my mind,
It takes my concentration.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
Avoid all confrontation.
I'm gonna say this one more time
For all my generation,
You'll never, ever pull my lever
Not today and not forever
(not today and not forever)
Take the fame
And change my name
Because my jacket's faded
And I'll change my hat
No we can't have that
(you'll be looking at a brand new cat)
It's all made up.
I've had enough
Of this circulation.
If you write me back,
I'll tell you where it's at.
When it feels like life's wastin' away,
I can say: that when
There's something on my mind,
It takes my concentration.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
Avoid all confrontation.
I'm gonna say this one more time
For all my generation,
You'll never, ever pull my lever
Not today and not forever
Something on my mind,
It takes my concentration.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
Avoid all confrontation.
I'm gonna say this one more time,
You'll never, ever pull my lever,
Not today and not forever.
(Not today and not forever)
Something on my mind,
It takes my concentration.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
Avoid all confrontation.
I'm gonna say this one more time,
For all my generation.
You'll never, ever pull my lever.
Not today and not forever.
Something on my concentration.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
Avoid all confrontation.
I'm gonna say this one more time,
For all my generation.
You'll never, ever pull my lever.
Not today and not forever.
The lyrics of "Something on My Mind" by Hawk Nelson are about wanting to escape from the confusion and chaos of life. The song starts with a reference to leaving behind the past and moving forward in life. The singer talks about feeling "too jaded" to come back and questions whether they are responsible for their situation. The uncertainty and confusion that the singer is feeling are portrayed in the lyrics.
The lyrics of the chorus are focused on the singer's desire to be focused and clear-headed when it comes to dealing with their problems. They want to "lay it on the line" and confront their issues head-on, without any hindrance. The singer is determined to live life on their own terms without being influenced by anyone or anything.
The song is a representation of the angst and frustration often felt by teenagers and young adults in modern society. It talks about the confusion of growing up and wanting to be free from the pressures of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Take the train,
I am leaving this place for good.
Go separate ways,
Let us go our own way and live our lives apart.
And leave it long forgotten.
We will forget about everything that we experienced together.
I'll hang my hat, and
I am ready to let go of my past.
I won't be back.
I have left and I am not coming back any time soon.
On my way out,
As I am leaving,
I'm feeling lame.
I feel like a failure or ashamed of myself.
Am I to blame?
Is it my fault for what happened?
Or am I just too jaded?
Maybe I am too cynical or distrustful of things.
What'd ya think of that?
How do you feel about my decision to leave?
When it feels like life's wastin' away,
When life seems meaningless or unfulfilling.
I can say: that when
I have an answer for why I feel that way.
There's something on my mind,
I have an issue that is consuming my thoughts.
It takes my concentration.
I cannot focus on anything else because of it.
Just wanna lay it on the line,
I want to be honest and upfront about my feelings.
Avoid all confrontation.
I am trying to communicate my thoughts without causing conflict.
I'm gonna say this one more time
I will restate my message to make it clear.
For all my generation,
This message is for everyone in my age group or similar experience.
You'll never, ever pull my lever
You will never have control over me or my decisions.
Not today and not forever
This will never change, both now and in the future.
Take the fame
If I become famous,
And change my name
I will alter my identity to avoid the attention.
Because my jacket's faded
Because I am no longer in style or relevant.
And I'll change my hat
I will also get rid of my old ways or habits.
No we can't have that
I cannot allow myself to be outdated or obsolete.
(you'll be looking at a brand new cat)
(you will see that I have transformed into a new person)
It's all made up.
Everything is fabricated or manufactured.
I've had enough
I am done with this artificial and superficial lifestyle.
Of this circulation.
Of this cycle of fame and attention.
If you write me back,
If you respond or contact me,
I'll tell you where it's at.
I will share with you my current situation or location.
Something on my concentration.
Something is occupying my thoughts and attention.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BARNEY WILLIAMS, JAMES FRASER, MATTHEW NELSON, NIAN BRINDLE, SIMON NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind