Universal then released their first album, 'The Better Life', and they garnered a big fan response. They received international fame with their first single, "Kryptonite", in particular. The album went on to sell over 6 million copies.
In 2002, 'Away From The Sun' was released with the single "When I'm Gone". The ballad "Here Without You" became another multi-format success, doing especially well in the adult contemporary space, while the singles "The Road I'm On" and "Away From The Sun" were minor hits. The album went on to sell over 3 million copies.
3 Doors Down released their third studio album, Seventeen Days, in 2005, and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Music Chart. The album achieved platinum status in less than a month. Its first single, "Let Me Go", received much airplay, and was followed by a second song called "Behind Those Eyes."
In 2007, they made a music video with the upcoming track "Citizen Soldiers" for the National Guard.
In May of 2008 3 Doors Down released their 4th full length studio album the self titled "3 Doors Down". The first single is It's Not my Time. They also launched a world tour in March in support.
Early years (1996-2000)
3 Doors Down was formed by drummer vocalist Brad Arnold, guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell. The three were friends who had grown up together in Escatawpa, and who all shared a common interest in rock music. The band began playing locally around the city, playing a mix of both cover songs and original songs that would eventually be recorded on their first release. Brad Arnold eventually ended up not only drumming, but also acting as the group's singer, mainly because, as he puts it, "nobody else would do it, but I did and enjoyed it." Arnold is also their lyricist, and wrote some of their early hits when he was 15, often working on songs during math class.
The band eventually began to tour outside of their city, and it was during a trip to Foley, Alabama that they came up with their official name. When the three men were walking through the town, they saw a building where some letters had fallen off of its sign, and it read "Doors Down." Since at the time they consisted of three people, they added the "3" to create "3 Doors Down."
A couple years after performing together, Todd Harrell asked guitarist Chris Henderson to join the band in order to make the sound more full. They recorded a demo CD of their original songs at Lincoln Recording Studio in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Radio station 97.9 WCPR started playing the EP version of "Kryptonite", and it became the #1 requested song on the station for over 15 weeks and led to Universal Records signing the band.
The Better Life (2000-2001)
3 Doors Down's first album, The Better Life was released on February 2 , 2000, and went on to become the 11th best-selling album of that year, selling over 3 million copies. It has since been certified 6x platinum, thanks in large part to the international hit singles, "Kryptonite", "Loser", and "Duck and Run". A fourth single, "Be Like That", also did well and was actually re-recorded for the 2001 film American Pie 2, with alternate lyrics for the first 3 lines. This version is known as "The American Pie 2 Edit".
For recording the album, Brad Arnold recorded both the vocal and drum parts. However, when touring to support The Better Life, the band hired a drummer so that Arnold could perform at the front of the stage.
Away from the Sun (2002)
Session drummer Josh Freese was hired to record drums for Away from the Sun. Also, Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson produced and performed on three tracks for the record, "Dangerous Game", "Dead Love", and "Wasted Me", but only "Dangerous Game" would appear on the finished product. The band hired Canadian Daniel Adair to play drums for the Away From the Sun tour. He would go on to record the drums for the band's next studio release, and was with the band aboard the U.S.S George Washington (CVN 73) to film the music video "When I'm Gone".
Another 700 Miles (2003)
In 2003, 3 Doors Down released a live E.P. entitled Another 700 Miles consisting of recordings from a live performance by the band in Chicago, Illinois. Another 700 Miles has since been certified Gold in the United States. Besides featuring some of 3 Doors Down's hit singles from their previous two albums, the E.P. also contains a version of the popular Lynyrd Skynyrd song "That Smell".
In 2003, the band began hosting the annual "3 Doors Down and Friends" benefit concert, through the band's own charity The Better Life Foundation. In 2006, this event was held at the Mobile Convention Center, with proceeds benefiting Hurricane Katrina survivors. As residents of Escawtawpa, the members of the band saw the effects of Katrina's devastation.[3]
Seventeen Days (2005-2007)
The band's third studio album, 2005's Seventeen Days, has since been certified platinum. "Let Me Go" and "Behind Those Eyes" charted with the most success. "Live for Today", "Landing in London" (on which Bob Seger provided back-up vocals and guitar), and "Here by Me" were also released as singles. During the Seventeen Days tour, the band appeared alongside southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as headlined many shows of their own.
Also in 2005, the band released a live DVD entitled Away from the Sun: Live from Houston, Texas. The DVD was produced and directed by Academy Award nominated Alex Gibney and Doug Biro. It features songs from both The Better Life and Away from the Sun, and even some early sketches of "It's Not Me" and "Father's Son", which were both eventually released on Seventeen Days.
- Greg Upchurch, formerly of Puddle of Mudd, replaced Daniel Adair in 2005, when Adair left to accept the position as drummer and contributing member of Nickelback.[4]
[edit] 3 Doors Down (2008-present)
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3 Doors Down released their self-titled fourth album on May 20, 2008. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 154,000 copies in its first week. It is the band's second consecutive #1 album on the chart after Seventeen Days, as well their fourth album to reach the Top Ten.[5] The album contains the hit singles "It's Not My Time", "Train", "Let Me Be Myself" (currently featured in a GEICO commercial) and "Citizen/Soldier", a song written as a tribute to the National Guard. The band has just recently begun writing their next record. It is rumored that they are going back in the studio near the end of the year to record their new album which can be expect to be out by spring/summer 2010.[6][dead link]
In 2009, 3 Doors Down, along with The Soul Children of Chicago, released the song “In The Presence Of The Lord” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration.[7]
[edit] Charity work
[edit] The Better Life Foundation
The Better Life Foundation
3 Doors Down started The Better Life Foundation (TBLF) in 2003, with a goal in mind to give as many children as possible a better life. Since its inception TBLF has supported numerous charities nationwide, as well as providing aid and assistance to the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina.
When the Mississippi town of Waveland took an especially hard hit from Katrina, the charity was able to purchase three police cars and a fire truck to help with rescue efforts. Also, in connection with Wal-Mart, were able to supply the town with three semi-trucks full of rescue supplies. There was also extensive support from TBLF in providing funding for rebuilding efforts in the town
3 Doors Down and The Better Life Foundation host a yearly show in at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, MS to raise money for the charity. In addition to a concert from 3 Doors Down and friends, there is also an auction, which includes numerous items from musical friends, sports icons, and other various supporters of the band and the charity. There is an average of sixty items auctioned off yearly, and proceeds are given to TBLF.
This year's show will feature 3 Doors Down, MuzikMafia, and Switchfoot.
The band has shared the stage with artists such as Daughtry, Megadeth, Staind, Nickelback, Alter Bridge, Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a Deadman, Seether, Shinedown, Hinder, Mentors, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. .
Website: http://www.3doorsdown.com/
Information about the charity can be found at http://www.thebetterlifefoundation.org
[edit] Members
[edit] Current members
* Brad Arnold - lead vocals
* Chet Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
* Chris Henderson - rhythm guitar
* Todd Harrell - bass guitar
* Greg Upchurch - drums, percussion, backing vocals
[edit] Past members
* Matt Roberts - lead guitar, backing vocals
* Daniel Adair - drums, percussion
* Richard Liles — drums, percussion
The Better Life
3 Doors Down Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surely you're gonna find me here
I'm about to sleep until the end of time,
Drug I take gonna wake
My fear right now
I'm passing away on to the
Better life
To the better
I'm about to see just how far I can fly,
Surely your gonna break my fall
I'm about to run as fast as I can,
Head long into that wall
This time I'm passing away on to the
Better life
I'm passing away on
To the better
On to the better life
On to the better
I'm about to be on the floor again,
Surely you're gonna find me here
I'm about to sleep until the
End of time, drug I take
Gonna wake my
Fear right now
I'm passing away on to the
Better life
I'm passing away on
To the better
I'm passing away on to the
Better life
I'm passing away on
To the better
The lyrics of "The Better Life" by 3 Doors Down speak to the struggles of addiction and the desire for redemption. The opening lines reveal the singer's impending downward spiral, but also suggests a kind of resignation to his fate: "I'm about to be on the floor again, surely you're gonna find me here." The singer then speaks of his drug use, which he paradoxically hopes will "wake [his] fear." He is desperate for a way out of his current state, and is willing to take whatever means necessary to get there.
The song's chorus adopts a hopeful tone, suggesting that the singer is leaving his past behind and "passing away" to a better life. However, the repetition of the phrase "I'm passing away" also subtly hints at the possibility of death - a darker interpretation that resonates with the themes of despair and self-harm. The second verse is equally harrowing, presenting a picture of the singer hurtling towards his own destruction: "I'm about to see just how far I can fly...I'm about to run as fast as I can, headlong into that wall." Overall, the lyrics of "The Better Life" are a moving portrayal of the emotional turmoil and self-destructive tendencies that are often part of the experience of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm about to be on the floor again,
I am on the brink of collapsing, physically or emotionally.
Surely you're gonna find me here
I have little hope that someone will come to my aid or rescue.
I'm about to sleep until the end of time,
I feel so consumed by despair that I wish to escape reality permanently.
Drug I take gonna wake
I am turning to a substance to numb the pain or alter my consciousness.
My fear right now
I am overwhelmed and crippled by anxiety and apprehension at present.
I'm passing away on to the
I am transitioning or moving forward towards something.
Better life
I hope for a future that is happier, healthier, and more fulfilling.
I'm about to see just how far I can fly,
I am testing my limits and pushing myself to the brink of danger or failure.
Surely your gonna break my fall
I am counting on someone else to soften my landing or pick me up when I falter.
I'm about to run as fast as I can,
I am pursuing something passionately or recklessly without looking back.
Head long into that wall
I am pursuing something in spite of the obstacles, consequences, or dangers ahead.
This time I'm passing away on to the
I am embarking on a new journey or phase in my life that differs from the past.
On to the better life
I am hoping to find or create a better future for myself than what I have experienced before.
On to the better
I am moving forward to something that is more fulfilling, rewarding, or satisfying than what I have left behind.
I'm about to sleep until the
I am feeling so depleted and exhausted that I seek refuge or escape from reality.
End of time, drug I take
I am relying on a substance to cope with my problems or emotions.
Gonna wake my
I am relying on a drug to stimulate me or provide temporary relief from my distress.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY KIRK ARNOLD, MATTHEW DARRICK ROBERTS, ROBERT TODD HARRELL, CHRISTOPHER LEE HENDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nell Bell
My bro died and this was his goodbye song. It wasn't the better life for his family. We were never the same again without him. Every smile of his family bears a deep sadness for everyone for evermore.
derek farmer
im sorry man :(
Ligma Patient #420 YT
Oh I'm so sorry
Neema Fouladi
Sorry for your brother's loss man..
Brittny Cleveland
I think I was so cool listening to this at 13 when I was heading out with my dad to go ride my dirt bike 😅✌✨
Dion t
Cool memory with your old man!
552003peaceout
Always will be my favorite song
Jody Conrad
Just heard this for the first time, thought for sure it was some grunge band from the 90’s, shocked to see it’s 3 doors down!!! Cool tune🤘🏼
Kevin Magee
Jody Conrad, I always thought that 3 Doors Down should have had some of their songs in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games, but it never happened!!!! This song would have been so cool to have been played in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater!!!! Also By My Side would have been cool in the THPS games
Raquel Edwards
Been a big 3doorsdown fan since I was 14 since this album came out definitely by far one of the best songs the whole album pretty much kills they've had me hooked I'm definitely passing away on to the better life and this is for all the people that foolishly chose not to follow hahaha I'm sitting back laughing at you now shaking my head thinking such losers but I will continue to be the queen that I am while y'all continue to be peasants Real Talk 💯 I guess like they say stupid is is what stupid does😂🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂