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.
The Victory
Third Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the day that I was born
Trying to make it through the hard times
Of this cruel world
But I'm keeping my head up
Even if I am alone
And I'll be fighting till
The good Lord takes me home
Well, I've been running in a long race
Trying to get to the prize
Doing everything that I can
To stay alive
But I'm never gonna give up
Even if I am alone
And I'll be running till
The good Lord takes me home
I'll run the race that needs to be run
I'll fight the fight that needs to be won
Are you listening
I'll do what it takes for me to survive
I'll never give up or compromise
I do believe I'm walking away
With the victory
I've been working my whole life
To be the best that I can
And I'm willing to sacrifice
All that I have
I'm never gonna give up
Even if I am alone
And I'll keep working till
The good Lord takes me home
I'll run the race that needs to be run
I'll fight the fight that needs to be won
Are you listening
I'll do what it takes for me to survive
I'll never give up or compromise
I do believe I'm walking away
With the victory
I'm never gonna give up fighting
I'm never gonna stop until I'm done
Even if it costs my life and
He will see me when the Kingdom come
I'll run the race that needs to be run
I'll fight the fight that needs to be won
Are you listening
I'll do what it takes for me to survive
I'll never give up or compromise
I do believe I'm walking away
With the victory
I do believe I'm walking away
With the victory
The song "The Victory" by Third Day is an inspiring declaration of determination and faith in overcoming life's struggles. The lyrics speak of a lifelong fight against the hardships of the world, and the unwavering resolve to keep going until the very end, no matter the cost. The song is written from the perspective of someone who has been fighting like a soldier from birth, trying to navigate through the difficult times of life. However, even with the inevitable loneliness that comes with such a journey, they are willing to keep their head up and soldier on, fighting until the end when the good Lord takes them home.
There are also references to running a long race and doing everything possible to stay alive. This can be interpreted as the journey through life and the effort to survive against all odds. The singer affirms their dedication to never give up or compromise, despite the trials they are facing. Lastly, they express their belief that they will ultimately walk away with the victory, reinforcing their faith in God's ultimate plan.
Overall, the song offers a message of hope and encouragement, reminding listeners to keep fighting and stay true to their values, no matter the circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been fighting like a soldier
I have been struggling through life with a warrior's spirit
From the day that I was born
This fight has been a part of me from the very beginning
Trying to make it through the hard times
I am enduring the difficulties of a harsh world
Of this cruel world
This world is not always kind
But I'm keeping my head up
I am staying strong and positive
Even if I am alone
Even if no one else is with me in this battle
And I'll be fighting till
I will persevere until the end
The good Lord takes me home
Until I pass away and join the Lord in the afterlife
Well, I've been running in a long race
My life is like a marathon
Trying to get to the prize
I am working hard towards a goal
Doing everything that I can
I am putting in maximum effort
To stay alive
In order to survive
But I'm never gonna give up
I will never surrender
I'll run the race that needs to be run
I will do what needs to be done to achieve my goals
I'll fight the fight that needs to be won
I will battle the battles that need fighting
Are you listening
Am I getting through to you?
I'll do what it takes for me to survive
I will do whatever is necessary to keep going
I'll never give up or compromise
I will not surrender or change who I am
I do believe I'm walking away
I am confident that I will
With the victory
Achieve success
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TIM ANDERSON, ALEX EBERT, FILIP NIKOLIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kelly Byrom
Third Day has carried me through many situations. Today my cup overflows and I continue to share them with others needing strength in their darkness. God knew I needed them, and used them to carry me back to the cross. God bless you Third Day for being a part of so many people's journey to Christ ✝
Daniel Silva
awesome
Mathew24
Well said. bless you.
Klara
Glória a DEUS,amo demais esse louvor.
2LiveIsChrist2DieIsGain 2LiveIsChrist2DieIsGain
Fighting like a soldier....
Victory in Jesus name
Quentin Smith
My favorite song by Third Day. This song can stand up with any genre of music.
Jerry Michael
2016: I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and was told I have a few months to live(Non-Smoker). Present Day 2019: Practicing this song for our upcoming praise and worship concert. God is good.
Raquel winner
I LOVE 💟
Matt Teare
Struggles I feel I'll never get through. I've seen more bad then good. More selfish than not. Drugs and gangs run my life. About to lose everything I love, wife and son. Third day very uplifting and good words for change in my life. Maybe I need more than a miracle. God bless to all those who suffer in silence. May God be with us.
Alan Porter
Romans 10:9-14
[9]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
[10]for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
[11]For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."
[12]For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
[13]for "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
[14]How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?