Early years
Third Day began in 1991, when singer Mac Powell and guitarist Mark Lee finished studying at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. They had already played together in a garage band called Nuclear Hoedown, but now wanted to form a band where they could express their faith in God. Powell and Lee added a keyboard player named Billy Wilkins, and dedicated their time to write songs and perform around the state of Georgia.[1]
In 1992, they were playing at Lee's church the same night that drummer David Carr and bassist Tai Anderson were playing with a band called Bullard Family Singers. Their youth director asked the band to perform at their church. The group took along quickly and were invited to join the band.[2] The album that Carr produced would be released the next year under the title Long Time Forgotten.
In 1993, while dealing with their studies, the band started playing more aggressively around Atlanta and saved $3,000 to record a full-length album. Also, during this time, original member, Billy Wilkins, who was working as a school teacher, ended up leaving the band.[3] Still, Third Day continued to work on their first full-length album, recording at Furies Studios in Atlanta. The album was finally released in 1994 with 2,000 copies available.[4] In 1995, the band started looking for a second guitarist. They had heard Brad Avery play with singer Chris Carder and asked him to play with the band. After playing "Consuming Fire" during their first rehearsal, Avery officially joined the band.
As the band completed its line-up, they also started playing steadily around the South-east area. They also started playing at an Atlanta venue called the Strand Theatre. The management of the local decided to sign the band to a new independent record label called Gray Dot Records. That same year, the band released the album Third Day, which ended up selling 20,000 copies. Shortly after, Reunion Records signed the band to a multi-album deal.[5]
International Success
In 1998, the band started working on their next project titled Time under the production of Monroe James. They had compiled around 30 songs to choose from during the last year, and ended up choosing only ten. The album was also nominated for a Grammy and won another Dove Award for the band. Some of the other songs the band recorded, but were left out can be found in the EP Southern Tracks.[8] Also, during the band's live shows, the worship part was becoming more "powerful", which prompted them to release an album exclusively of worship songs, titled Offerings: A Worship Album. The album was recorded in about a week, and they followed it with a tour alongside Jennifer Knapp. They also collaborated in the project called City on a Hill: Songs of Worship and Praise.[9]
In 2001, the band played in Australia and New Zealand on the heels of the success of the Offerings album. They continued to tour in the States, and recorded one of their concerts in Atlanta to be released as their first DVD, The Offerings Experience. The concert was held at the Hi-Fi Buys Ampitheatre with an attendance of close to 15,000 people. That same year, the band won a total of five Dove Awards as well as their first Grammy. They followed that year with the release of Come Together which ended up winning two Dove Awards and one more Grammy. The album was certified gold the next year, along with Time.[10][11] In 2003, they also released a follow-up to their hit Offerings titled Offerings II: All I Have to Give.
The band appeared in the 2002 film "Joshua", the movie version of the Joseph Girzone novel of the same name. The Third Day song "My Hope is You" was included in the Joshua soundtrack album.
Recent Years
In 2004, the band released their next album, Wire, and toured the States with tobyMac and Warren Barfield. In June of the same year, the band traveled to Europe for a two-week tour. Upon returning, the band recorded a concert at Louisville which ended up as their next project, Live Wire, released later that year. During that year, they also collaborated on the soundtrack for Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ, they played at the Republican National Convention, and were featured in the show 60 Minutes.[12] In January 2007, the band played one night each in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, Australia.[13]
Their next album, Wherever You Are, debuted on the Billboard 200 at #8.[14] It also won the band their third Grammy. They have followed it with the holiday album, Christmas Offerings in 2006, and with a compilation of their hits titled Chronology in 2007. On February 28th, 2008, Third Day released a statement announcing Brad Avery's departure from the band after 13 years and over 1000 concerts.
Their best album to date entitled Revelation was released July 29, 2008.
Third Day released Miracle on November 6, 2012. The band toured Miracle on the Miracle Tour with artists Colton Dixon and Josh Wilson as their opening acts, commencing on February 21, 2013 in Fairfax, Virginia and concluding on May 19, 2014 in Orlando, Florida.
Third Day released the worship album Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship on March 3, 2015. The album, produced by the duo The Sound Kids, composed of Jonny Macintosh and JT Daly, peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on the Top Rock Albums chart[27] and No. 13 on the Digital Albums chart. The album has had one single, "Soul on Fire", that spent 19 weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 2 on Hot Christian Songs and No. 3 on Christian Digital Songs.
I Don't Know
Third Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know how to show you I was wrong
Wasted all that you had given to me
Now I'm left with nothing and no one
And I find it's my fault
I'm the only one to blame
For the tears and the pain
Or would it matter anyway
'Cause I don't know how you could still forgive me
For all that I have put you through
Is there anything that I can do
I would give my life to find your mercy
All my life has lead to this decision
To return and ask you this one thing
And if I had one chance or if a million
Would it ever be enough for me
To explain what I've done
Now I know that I was wrong
Will you hold me again
I don't know what I can say
Or would it matter anyway
'Cause I don't know how you could still forgive me
For all that I have put you through
Is there anything that I can do
I would give my life to find your mercy
What will it take until you forgive me
I don't know
And I find it's my fault
I'm the only one to blame
For the tears and the pain
I don't know what I can say
Or would it matter anyway
'Cause I don't know how you could still forgive me
For all that I have put you through
Is there anything that I can do
I would give my life to find your mercy
I don't know what I can say
Or would it matter anyway
'Cause I don't know how you could still forgive me
For all that I have put you through
Is there anything that I can do
I would give my life to find your mercy
What will it take until you forgive me
Oh Lord, will I find that you have already
I don't know
The song "I Don't Know" by Third Day is a raw and emotional confession of guilt and remorse over hurting someone you love and asking for forgiveness. The lyrics start with an admission that the singer doesn't know how to apologize or make things right. The chorus repeats the singer's uncertainty and desperation, wondering if anything they do can make up for what they've done or if they'll ever be forgiven. The bridge shifts towards a realization that the only thing the singer can do is throw themselves on God's mercy and hope that the forgiveness they seek will come.
While the lyrics appear to be directed towards a specific person, they also have a universal quality. Everyone has done something wrong at some point in their life that they wish they could take back. The song captures the feelings of regret, shame, and hopelessness that come with recognizing that you've hurt someone you love and that nothing you do or say will make it right. It's a powerful reminder of the power of forgiveness and the hope that can come from seeking it.
Line by Line Meaning
Cannot find the words to say I'm sorry
I am unable to find the right words to express my apology
Don't know how to show you I was wrong
I am confused about how to prove that I have realized my mistake
Wasted all that you had given to me
I have squandered all the things and love you had given me
Now I'm left with nothing and no one
My mistake has made me lose everything, and I am alone
And I find it's my fault
I acknowledge that I am entirely responsible for this situation
I'm the only one to blame
I am solely accountable for the mistake that has hurt you
For the tears and the pain
I am responsible for causing the sadness and suffering you went through
I don't know what I can say
I have no idea what words I can use to make it right
Or would it matter anyway
I am unsure if my apology would make any difference
'Cause I don't know how you could still forgive me
I am puzzled by how you can find it in your heart to pardon me
For all that I have put you through
I am regretful of all the distress and pain that my mistake has caused you
Is there anything that I can do
I am seeking your guidance on what I can do to make things better
I would give my life to find your mercy
I am willing to do anything, even risk my life, to earn your forgiveness
What will it take until you forgive me
I am desperate to know what I can do to gain your pardon
Oh Lord, will I find that you have already
I am praying to God to show me that you have already forgiven me
I don't know
I am clueless about how to make things right
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brad Avery, David Carr, Johnny Mac Powell, Mark D Lee, Tai Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind