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.
Morning Has Broken
Third Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the world
Sweet the rain’s new fall
Sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall
On the first grass
Praise for the sweetness
Of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness
Where His feet pass
Morning has broken
Like the first dawn
Sing Hallelujah
A new day is born
Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw play
Praise with elation
Praise every morning
God’s recreation
Of the new day
Morning has broken
Like the first dawn
Sing Hallelujah
A new day is born
Morning has broken
Morning has broken
Third Day's song Morning Has Broken describes the beauty and wonder of a new day. The lyrics liken the beginning of each day to the first morning of creation, with the blackbird's song and the freshness of the world. The lyrics also express gratitude and praise for the beauty that surrounds us, such as the sun's rays and the sweet rain that brings life to the garden. The repetition of "Morning has broken / Like the first dawn / Sing Hallelujah / A new day is born" emphasizes the idea of renewal and new beginnings each day, a concept that is often associated with faith and spirituality.
The song's title and lyrics are based on an old Christian hymn that was written in 1931 by Eleanor Farjeon. The hymn was originally titled "A Morning Song" and was inspired by the beauty of the English countryside. It was set to a traditional Gaelic tune called "Bunessan," which adds to the song's Celtic influence.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning has broken
The beginning of a new day has arrived
Like the first morning
The new day feels like the beginning of creation
Blackbird has spoken
Nature is awakening and beginning to make noise
Like the first bird
The sounds of nature are reminiscent of the original sounds of creation
Praise for the singing
Acknowledgement of the beauty of nature's sounds
Praise for the morning
Thankfulness for the new day and the opportunity for new beginnings
Praise for them springing
Gratitude for the new life and growth that occurs in the springtime
Fresh from the world
Renewed life and growth is just beginning
Sweet the rain's new fall
The sound and smell of new rain is refreshing and signifies new growth
Sunlit from Heaven
The sun shining through the clouds reminds us of God's presence in the world
Like the first dewfall
The new dew on the grass is a reminder of the original creation of the world
On the first grass
The new dew is a sign of new life and growth about to take place
Praise for the sweetness
Appreciation for the sweetness of life and new growth
Of the wet garden
The moisture from the rain creates lush greenery and new life
Sprung in completeness
New life and growth is starting in full force
Where His feet pass
God's presence is felt in the new creations of nature
Like the first dawn
The new day feels like the original dawn of creation
Sing Hallelujah
Rejoice in the new day and in God's creation
A new day is born
The day is beginning with fresh opportunities and new beginnings
Mine is the sunlight
Acknowledging the divine light or presence in oneself
Mine is the morning
Appreciating the new day as a gift from God
Born of the one light
The new day is a creation of God's divine light and presence
Eden saw play
A reference to the Garden of Eden and the joy and playfulness found in nature
Praise with elation
Thankfulness filled with enthusiasm and joy
Praise every morning
Gratitude and appreciation for each new day
God's recreation
Recognition of God's creative power and presence in each new day
Of the new day
Emphasizing the newness and opportunities that each new day brings
Morning has broken
The beginning of a new day has arrived
Morning has broken
The beginning of a new day has arrived
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Eleanor Farjeon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Stephenson
Praise with Elation! Praise every morning...God's recreation of the new day. Thank you, Third Day, for restoring my love for this hymn. Old enough to remember singing it in church. Young enough to remember hearing the former Cat Stevens sing it on the radio. I remember thinking it would be a good fit for Third Day worship. Each day is a gift handcrafted by our loving Creator.
Lor
LOVE IT!!! It sure saddened me to know that Cat abandoned his inspiration for this song after God healed him of a great illness. I continue to pray for him, and REJOICE that Mac so beautifully revivied it with his gifted voice HALELUJIA indeed!
GiGi W.
@lorluvbug
Sorry for such a late post, but I just recently found this.
He was such a talent! I wonder what hurt him so badly that he turned 180°? I pray for him as well. Y'Shuas peace to you.
Heidi Samora
LOVE it, this is such a moving song, thrilled one of my favorite bands is singing it!
Janelle Dupuis
one of my favorite bands of all time! love third day.
Girl, interrupted
How cool... I remember learning this song in school choir.. love it .. awesome choice for a cover song....cool version!
2TimothyBand
Heard this Song on the Radio one Sunday Morning as I was going to work and it was Great! Jesus Saves.
2TimothyBand
Third Day is soooo Good. A Top 3 favorite Group. #JesusSaves
Cynthia Gindorf
I've always loved this song, and this is a great version.
Bruce7
Very nice rendition. May God's peace that passeth all understanding, ring forth....