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.
Your Love Is Like A River
Third Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
When this cruel world tears us apart
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
When sharpened words have left their scars
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
How deep and how wide is your love
It never stops, it rages on
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
When I am tired and so afraid
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
When darkness falls and my vision fades
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
And it's always burning and stirring my soul
To know you and love you much more
It never stops or ever fades
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
Oh, it's never gonna stop
Oh, it's flowing from my heart
Oh, it's never gonna fade
Your fire will light my way
When all my strength and hope is gone
Your love is like a rock that I am standing on
Oh, it's never gonna stop
Oh, it's flowing from my heart
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
Your love is like a rock that I am standing on
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
Your love is like a rock that I am standing on
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
The lyrics of Third Day's "Your Love Is Like A River" express the overwhelming nature of God's love. It is described as a river, fire, and rock that support and sustain the singer in times of difficulty. The repetition of "Your love is like a river flowing from my heart" emphasizes the idea that the love is not just an external force, but something within the singer that continually flows outwards.
The first verse acknowledges the pain and conflict that can arise in life, but counters it with the truth of God's love. The second verse speaks to fear and uncertainty, but again asserts that God's love is a constant presence that can guide the way.
The chorus takes on a more triumphant tone, celebrating the vastness of God's love that never fades. The imagery of a river that "never stops, it rages on" reinforces the idea that this love is powerful and unstoppable. The third verse further emphasizes the stability and strength of God's love, stating that it is a rock on which the singer can stand when all else fails.
Overall, the song serves as a reminder of the unrelenting and transformative nature of God's love, and its ability to sustain and uplift even in the most difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love is like a river flowing from my heart
The love that I feel for you and that you give me is continuous, abundant and unstoppable.
When this cruel world tears us apart
In times when everything is falling apart, Your love is my constant that never leaves me.
When sharpened words have left their scars
When hurtful words and actions wound me, Your love heals me like a flowing river.
And it's overflowing and showing us all
The depth and power of Your love for us is on full display and I am in awe of it.
How deep and how wide is your love
Your love knows no bounds and it's vastness is immeasurable.
It never stops, it rages on
Your love for me is never-ending and its intensity never fades.
When I am tired and so afraid
In moments of fear and weariness, Your love gives me the strength to keep going.
Your love is like a fire that will light my way
Your love guides me through moments of darkness and uncertainty, and it never fails to illuminate my path.
When darkness falls and my vision fades
In moments of despair and confusion, Your love brings light and clarity to my life.
And it's always burning and stirring my soul
Your love ignites my soul and fills me with an unquenchable fire that can never be extinguished.
To know you and love you much more
I am constantly seeking to know You better and to fall more deeply in love with You.
It never stops or ever fades
Just like Your love, my desire to know You and to love You more never fades or diminishes.
Oh, it's never gonna stop
Your love for me is eternal and will never end.
Oh, it's flowing from my heart
Your love is the source of my being, and it is perpetually flowing through me.
Your fire will light my way
Your passionate, all-consuming love is the beacon that illuminates my life, showing me the way forward.
When all my strength and hope is gone
In moments of weakness and despair, Your love is the rock-solid foundation on which I stand.
Your love is like a rock that I am standing on
Your love is the unshakeable, unwavering foundation that gives me stability and security in all things.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Tai Anderson, Mac Powell, David Carr, Mark Lee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iréne Mari
Nobody does relatable, catchy, fun, upbeat, amazing, God filled music like Third Day!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♡
Jeremias Fly
✝
Aliza Sieders
Always listen to it never stop listening to it
Emily
Five years later, and this song still inspires me more than anything else
Jeremias Fly
✝
Thalia Milleyde
Muito linda as canções de Third Day... Amo de coração 💜
Deanna Frame
thank you for this music. I have had a very dark life at times and your music has ALWAYS helped me and the Lord has always spoken to me through it. thank you and praise Jesus
John Bolin
This song helped me through the most difficult time in my life
L R
Ditto John!
Their music saved me too!
Tracee Bates
This is so true...