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.
We're Alright
Hawk Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Backstage passes for the show
Muddy shoes, fresh tattoos and a brand new feeling
That tonight will be alright we're letting go
How does it feel just to know that we're out of our minds
And we don't need a reason
How does it feel to know you're alright
There ain't no better reason
We can make it tonight, everything is alright
Distant dreams, a trillion questions
And we exaggerate them all
We think the teens in magazines they have all the answers
As we build this machine to watch it fall
How does it feel just to know that we're out of our minds
And we don't need a reason
How does it feel to know you're alright
How does it feel just to know that we are alive
There ain't no better reason
We can make it tonight, everything is alright
Alright, alright
How does it feel just to know that we're out of our minds
And we don't need a reason
How does it feel to know you're alright
How does it feel just to know that we are alive
How does it feel to know you're alright
We can make it tonight
We can make it tonight
Hawk Nelson's song "We're Alright" is a reflection on youth and the feeling of invincibility that often comes with it. The lyrics about going to Toronto for a weekend with backstage passes for a show and the excitement of muddy shoes, fresh tattoos, and a brand new feeling all convey a sense of carefree abandon. The chorus asks the listener how it feels to be out of their minds and not need a reason, to know that they are alive and everything is alright.
The second verse introduces a theme of uncertainty and insecurity, with the lines "distant dreams, a trillion questions, and we exaggerate them all." The song suggests that young people often look to those in the media, such as the "teens in magazines," for answers, but ultimately come to realize that they must find their own way. The line "as we build this machine to watch it fall" suggests that the search for answers and meaning can be self-destructive.
Overall, "We're Alright" is an anthem for youth, celebrating the euphoria, insecurity, and ultimately the freedom that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Went to T.O. for the weekend
We went to Toronto for the weekend.
Backstage passes for the show
We had passes that allowed us backstage access to the show.
Muddy shoes, fresh tattoos and a brand new feeling
We had dirty shoes and new tattoos and were experiencing a fresh, new feeling.
That tonight will be alright we're letting go
We're letting go of our worries and believe that tonight will be alright.
Distant dreams, a trillion questions
We have far away dreams and an overwhelming amount of questions.
And we exaggerate them all
We blow all of our dreams and questions out of proportion.
We think the teens in magazines they have all the answers
We believe that the teenagers in magazines have all the answers to life.
As we build this machine to watch it fall
We are building a machine that is doomed to fail.
How does it feel just to know that we're out of our minds
What does it feel like to know that we are crazy and don't care.
And we don't need a reason
We don't have a specific reason for our craziness.
How does it feel to know you're alright
What does it feel like to know that everything is going to be okay.
There ain't no better reason
There is no better reason to be content with life.
We can make it tonight, everything is alright
We can survive tonight and everything will turn out okay.
Alright, alright
Everything is going to be okay.
We can make it tonight
We have the strength to get through the night.
We can make it tonight
We will be able to survive this night.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Connair
gotta say my favorite hawk nelson song right now
MetalGearTom MGT
This song sounds like Muda Kingdom from Super Mario Land
jared skully
agreed
Adam Jenkins
there is a my little pony music video with this song and it has more likes then this original song. for shame
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Someone at 2026?