In 2002, the band released their popular second album, Spoken For, which produced two more Top 10 hits. The combined success of the band's first two albums garnered a nomination for the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards.
In 2004, MercyMe released Undone which produced two Top 10 hits: Here With Me which also hit Billboard's Top 100 chart that same year, and In The Blink of an Eye which, as of the end of 2005, was at #5 on R&R's top Christian hits. In 2005 they also released their Christmas album titled The Christmas Sessions.
2006 saw the release of the album Coming Up to Breathe, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Christian Albums, and #13 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Also released was Coming Up to Breathe Acoustic.
In 2007, MercyMe released their newest album, All That Is Within Me, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
In 2010 they released The Generous Mr. Lovewell. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Christian Albums chart.
August 30, 2011 they released an album titled The Worship Sessions; it's currently exclusive to Family Christian Bookstores and can not be found on iTunes or Amazon.
The The Hurt & The Healer Songfacts says that their eighth major label studio album, The Hurt & Tye Healer, will be released on May 22, 2012. The record was produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala and is centered around the concept of bringing healing to the hurting.
Never the Less
MercyMe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can You see any kind of hope in all of this mess?
We've tuned You out in every way
Found the Truth is whatever that we say
Your sovereign plan we've dismissed
Sealed it all with a kiss
Let me ask You again,
"What's a man like You doing in
Never the less
You've heard our cries
You've sacrificed
Your name has been glorified
Our sins confessed
Our faith addressed
You've saved us
Never the less
Oh the mess we've made
Oh the price you've paid
Why do You love us?
The lyrics of "Never the Less" by MercyMe explore the paradoxical nature of God's love and grace towards humanity. The song begins with the singer questioning why a divine being like God would choose to be present in a world filled with chaos and suffering. From the singer's perspective, humanity has ignored and rejected God's teachings and instead embraced their own self-serving ideologies. The line "found the Truth is whatever that we say" highlights how humanity has distorted the concept of truth to fit their own narratives and desires.
Despite humanity's faults and shortcomings, God never abandons them. The chorus of the song, "nevertheless, you've heard our cries, you've sacrificed, your name has been glorified," speaks to the redemptive power of God's love. The line "our sins confessed, our faith addressed" acknowledges the transformative nature of acknowledging one's wrongdoing and turning towards God.
The final lines of the song - "Oh, the mess we've made, Oh, the price you've paid, Why do you love us?" - underscore the gratitude and wonder that comes with understanding the depth of God's grace. The singer recognizes the weight of their actions and the cost of God's love, and yet, they are still left with a sense of awe and confusion at why God would choose to show them love despite it all.
Overall, "Never the Less" is a poignant reflection on the human experience and the power of divine love to transform even the most broken of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
So tell me what's a man like You doing in a place like this?
What is a divine being like You doing in a flawed and corrupt world like ours?
How can You see any kind of hope in all of this mess?
Despite the chaos and darkness all around us, how can You still have faith in us?
We've tuned You out in every way
We have ignored and rejected You through our actions and words.
Found the Truth is whatever that we say
We have manipulated and distorted the truth to fit our own agenda and beliefs.
Your sovereign plan we've dismissed
We have disregarded Your divine and all-encompassing plan for the universe.
Sealed it all with a kiss
We have betrayed and rejected You, even though You love us unconditionally.
Let me ask You again,
"What's a man like You doing in
A place like this?"
Once more, I am expressing my wonder and amazement that You, as a perfect being, can exist in a world filled with pain and suffering.
Never the less
You've heard our cries
You've sacrificed
Your name has been glorified
Despite our failures and sins, You have still heard our pleas and given Yourself up for us. Your selflessness and love have brought glory to Your name.
Our sins confessed
Our faith addressed
You've saved us
Never the less
Through repentance and acceptance of faith, You have saved us from our sins and shortcomings. Even when we do not deserve it, You have reached down to lift us up.
Oh the mess we've made
Oh the price you've paid
Why do You love us?
We acknowledge the damage we have caused and the toll it has taken on You. Despite it all, Your boundless love for us remains unfaltering and unchanging.
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.