Come Together

Come Together is the culmination of a lengthy period of recording, touring and soul-searching in which Third Day converted a loft-style office in an unfinished, suburban building into a makeshift recording studio, allowing the band enormous amounts of creative freedom. The group outfitted the room’s hardwood floors, brick walls and high ceilings with wall rugs, atmospheric lighting and a ton of recording equipment, disabled a nagging buzz, and made the place a veritable home for a month, beginning in September 2000.

“When we first set it up, we felt like we had accomplished something before we ever played any music,” bass player Tai Anderson recalls.

That sense of accomplishment only grew as the album developed. With unlimited studio time, they took creative liberties and fleshed out many of the songs spontaneously, resulting in a creative step forward. Come Together uses sophisticated counter-harmonies and a loose-but-unified rhythmic base to communicate messages ranging from spiritual appreciation to tribulation.

“I think the songs are better,” lead singer Mac Powell enthuses. “We stepped out of our comfort zone a little bit musically. Everyone always says their new record is their best, but I really feel that.”

Part of the album’s artistic success derived from an unplanned development in Third Day’s career. The group released a partially live project, Offerings—A Worship Album, in July 2000, and backed it with a small concert tour. Its overt Christian message gained huge, immediate support, propelling the band to its first gold album. Instead of finishing Come Together for release in the summer of 2001, they re-tooled their plans, to capitalize on the excitement.

“We did this frantic, quick booking of a spring 2001 tour, which turned out to be our most successful tour ever,” drummer David Carr says, “so it held everything back. But I think it was a good thing. It helped us be able to sit on the music for a while and see what we needed.”

Ultimately, they decided the album could be improved by swapping out several songs, so they booked time in one of Atlanta’s landmark studios, Southern Tracks, and cut three more: the bristling “Get On,” the thoughtful “Show Me Your Glory” and the soulful “I Got You”—all of which made the final cut.

The album also benefited from the observant view of producer Monroe Jones, whose patience and enthusiasm resulted in a series of inspired performances.

“His thing isn’t all technique and perfection,” Carr says. “It’s like capture the moment.”

Find out more about Third Day here.

The moments, and the momentum, have built slowly but steadily for Third Day since the group’s evolution began a decade ago. Powell and Lee first started working together in 1991, after meeting in high school. By the beginning of 1993, Carr and Anderson came on board, and in 1995, Brad Avery joined Lee as the band’s guitarists.

Instead of aggressively chasing the big time, Third Day atypically—and unwittingly—let the music industry reach out to them. The group pitched itself for bookings only three times during its developmental years, and each occasion led to a series of regular appearances. When the band first headed into a recording studio, it had no intention of making a demo tape for a record company; the guys merely wanted cassettes to sell at their concerts.

In short order, their efforts netted a record deal, and they set about making albums that established a unique core sound, built around Powell’s earthy vocal texture, though they doggedly avoided repetition in their albums. Following their self-titled debut in 1996, Conspiracy No. 5 experimented with hard modern rock textures in 1997, while 1999’s Time rediscovered the band’s inherent Southern roots.

Along the way, they garnered a substantial amount of attention, with 15 #1 singles, eight Dove awards, and three Grammy nominations. In addition, they scored major press from CNN, NBC’s “Today” show, Billboard, US magazine, CCM magazine, The Dallas Morning News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Minneapolis Star and The Cleveland Plain Dealer, among others. They even wrote and performed a song for Coca-Cola.

They also formed a coalition of sorts with many of their fellow performers, joining such acts as Jars of Clay, Caedmon’s Call, Sixpence None The Richer and The Newsboys, among others, with the 2000 album City on a Hill, a music community project in which numerous acts came together in worship.

The praise songs of Third Day’s Offerings, intended as a side project for the group’s most ardent fans, solidified the group’s presence. That album preceded their momentous night at the Doves, a victory accompanied by a heightened profile, which the band is only beginning to feel.

“I always thought there’s the mainstream Christian music scene, and here we are off over to the side doing our own thing,” Lee explains. “As soon as you win Artist of the Year, it means you’re right at the forefront of what’s going on in Christian music, so I think we realized then that it’s a cool thing. But it’s also this responsibility, because people are looking at us to see what we do next, and it can really shape where Christian music goes, as far as reaching more toward people that didn’t grow up in the church. So I think we have a responsibility to do some things that maybe aren’t the popular thing. Because we’ve been put in this position, we should do some things to try to influence Christian music.”

Third Day’s approach to its music is a model in communication and teamwork. Many bands, if not most, start out as a democracy, only to implode when one or two members commandeer the group’s direction. Third Day started with a democratic mindset that has only increased over time. The songwriting credits have become more evenly distributed as the group has developed, and the individual players consistently set aside personal aspirations for the betterment of the larger unit. That ideal is exemplified by its two primary guitarists, Lee and Avery, who blend so naturally that months after the completion of Come Together, they weren’t able to determine who played which guitar parts.

“You pick your spots to make a little noise, put a little signature thing here or there, but the idea is the collective whole,” Avery insists. “That’s the idea of music, in a band: You have to listen to everybody else.”

“We’re in a totally exciting place for a band. This is what we do, but it’s exciting. We’re excited about going forward, we’re excited about the future,” Anderson adds.

Find out more about Third Day’s 2001 release Come Together here.

Discography

Video / DVD

• "Third Day Live In Concert – The Offerings Experience" video/DVD from 2001 "Offerings" tour
• "Your Love, Oh Lord" video from Time
• "You Make Me Mad" video from Conspiracy No. 5
• "Consuming Fire" video from Third Day

Radio – Fifteen #1 Singles

• "These Thousand Hills"
• "Praise Song"
• "Nothing At All"
• "Your Love Oh Lord"
• "I’ve Always Loved You"
• "Took My Place"
• "Sky Falls Down"
• "What Good"
• "You Make Me Mad"
• "Agnus Dei"
• "Alien"
• "Forever"
• "My Hope Is You"
• "Blackbird"
• "Who I Am"

Awards and Accolades

Come Together
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

You can all call me crazy
For the things that I might say
You can laugh all you want to
I know there will come a day
When we all will come together
And learn to set aside our hate
If we could learn to love our neighbors
Just like we would love ourselves

We've got to come together
'Cause in the end we can make it -- alright
We've got to brave the weather
Through all of the storms
We've got to come together
'Cause in the end we can make it -- alright
We've got to learn to love

You can call me a dreamer
But these dreams will come true
Yes, I am a firm believer
In the things that we can do
If we would all just come together
And let the Lord lead our way
There is nothing that we can't do
There is nothing we can't face

CHORUS

And I know that there will come a day
When the Lord will call His own away
To a place that He has made for all of us
But until the day of His return
There's a lesson that we've got to learn
We are brothers and we're sisters
We are one

CHORUS 2X

40 Days
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

Here I am at what feels like the end
And so I come to You, my Lord, again
With this burden buried deep within
This heart that You have made
In this trial that I’m going through
And I don’t question ‘cause I know it’s true
That the sorrow brings me back to You
And You have made me stronger

It’s been forty days and forty nights
Down the road of many trials
And I pray it’s only for a season
‘Cause in the wilderness and in the flood
You’re the one I’m thinking of
‘Cause I know You’ve brought me for a reason

I have one more thing I’ve got to say
Before they try to take my life away
Let it be known that I am not afraid
Let Your will be done, Lord

CHORUS 3X

Show Me Your Glory
Words and music by Mark Lee, Marc Byrd, and Third Day

I caught a glimpse of your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I've ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning Reflected off the sky
And I know I'll never be the same

Show me your glory
Send down your presence
I wanna see your face
Show me your glory
Majesty shines about you
I can't go on without you, Lord

When I climb down the mountain
And get back to my life
I won't settle for ordinary things
I'm gonna follow you forever
And for all of my days
I won't rest 'til I see you again

CHORUS 3X

Get On
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

So you think you had me
Had me in your sights
I’ve got news for you
I’m working over time
To get away from slander
To stay away from lies
I won’t listen to you criticize

Get on, get on, get on away from me
If you’re trying to bring me down
If you’re trying to bring me down
Get on, get on, get on away from me
If you’re trying to bring me down
If you’re trying to bring me down

I’ve been doing some thinking
And I think you’re wrong
For trying to put down
What I’ve been working on
So if you want to break me
You better stay away
I won’t listen, no
I won’t listen to you today

CHORUS

Excuse me if I still question
Carefully all of your intentions
I've decided that I won't listen
Because your words only bring division

CHORUS

My Heart
Words by Brad Avery / Music by Third Day

I paint a picture, I think it's easier to live that way
But my heart is really broken
I'm not the man you think I am when you see me each day
Torn apart and then left open

Father come and fill me up
I can't wait for You to overflow my cup

My heart makes me wonder how much longer
'Til You're coming back to take me away
My heart longs for You to fly right through the sky
And take me to the place where I
will never feel my heart break down again

I search the sky and then I try imagining You there
Looking on anticipating
You're standing by and knowing I will join you in the air
Until then I'll be here waiting

CHORUS 3X

It’s Alright
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn’t know how long
I have never stopped believing
That one day you would return
And though the waiting is the hardest
Part of everything I do
I do confess it’s getting better
Knowing I will be with you

It’s alright
It’s okay
I won’t worry about tomorrow
For it brings me one more day
Closer than I was to you

Now the question isn’t “will you”
What I want to know is “when”
If it’s one day or a million
I will wait for you ‘til then
So I’m holding on to your words
And the promises you’ve made
There is not one you have broken
There’s not one I didn’t take

CHORUS

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn’t know how long
I will never stop believing
I know one day you will return

CHORUS 2x

Still Listening
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

There was a time when I thought that I had You figured out
I told You before and I’ll say once more
Now and then I have my doubts
I’ll never pretend to know what You are doing
It’s true that You move in mysterious ways

I looked for You in
The fire and the wind
But You weren’t there as far as I could see
I thought I’d hear You shout
But then I figured it out
That all along You’re whispering to me
And I’m still listening

Just when I thought that I had caught a glimpse of who You are
You taught me a lesson I needed to learn
Right from the very start
I never will be the man that I quite need to
But that’s alright ‘cause You’re enough for me

CHORUS 2X

I Got You
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

What kind of song do you want to sing for me?
Is it slow or is it rock and roll?
What kind of day do you want to bring to me?
Rain or shine, I would be just fine

‘Cause I’ve got everything I need
I got everything
I got everything

I got you and you’re putting it all together
And it doesn’t get any better as far as I can tell
I got you right now and ever after
And it doesn’t even really matter
That I’ve got nothing else
‘Cause I got you

Where do I go when I want to know the truth?
It isn’t me, well it’s only you
When will I know what you have for me to do?
Is it now or is it coming soon?

CHORUS

Be it pleasure, be it pain
I’m ready for whatever
Whatever life may bring
‘Cause I know that in the end
Everything works together
For the good of those who love Him

CHORUS 2X

I Don’t Know
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

Cannot find the words to say I’m sorry
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

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

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

CHORUS

That 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

CHORUS 2X

What will it take until you forgive me
Oh Lord, will I find that you have already
I don’t know

When The Rain Comes
Words by Mark Lee / Music by Third Day

When the rain comes it seems that everyone has gone away
When the night falls you wonder if you shouldn't find someplace
To run and hide
Escape the pain
But hiding's such a lonely thing to do

I can't stop the rain
From falling down on you again
I can't stop the rain
But I will hold you 'til it goes away

When the rain comes you blame it on the things that you have done
When the storm fades you know that rain must fall on everyone
So Rest awhile
It'll be alright
No one loves you like I do

CHORUS 2X

When the rain comes
I will hold you

Sing Praises
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

Sing praises to our God, sing praises
Sing praises to our King, sing praises
Let all the nations sing
Let all the nations sing of His love
Oh, sing praises

So shout for joy all of His children
Yea shout for joy all of His children
Let all the people sing
Let all the people sing of His love
Oh, sing praises

For You are God and You are worthy
Of all our lives and all our praise
And so we sing to the Most Holy
The Lord, our God
The Lord, our King

Sing praises to our God, sing praises
Sing praises to our King, sing praises
For He alone is God
For He alone is worthy of praise
Oh, sing praises

CHORUS 2X

Nothing Compares
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

I’ve heard all the stories
I’ve seen all the signs
Witnessed all the glory
Tasted all that’s fine

Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You, Lord

I see all the people
Wasting all their time
Building up their riches
For a life that’s fine

CHORUS

I find myself just living for today
‘Cause I don’t know what
Tomorrow’s gonna bring
So no matter if I rise or fall
I’ll never be alone, oh no

CHORUS 2X

Unity.

The idea is simple, but its application is incredibly difficult.

Unity is a basic tenet in the rise of Third Day, the Gospel Music Association’s Artist of the Year. It also provides an underlying plank in the creation of Come Together, whose title is far more profound than the band anticipated when it started planning the album more than 18 months before its release.

While Come Together reflects Third Day’s cooperative environment, the band humbly wishes the larger church could adopt a continuously unified spirit, similar to the one demonstrated by the American culture in the wake of September’s terrorism.

“We came up with this ‘come together’ idea maybe a year-and-a-half ago,” guitarist Mark Lee reflects, “but after that, to see the election last year, and see how divided this country was afterward, I just think it’s a really fitting title for the time that we’re in right now.”

Come Together also fits the current period of Third Day’s career. The band’s creative ideals and commercial appeal have come together at the same time, with the five-piece ensemble progressing from an underdog in the Christian marketplace to a significant force. The band’s ceaseless work ethic and unwavering desire to make a difference earned fierce recognition at the 2001 Dove Awards, where the Atlanta-based act racked up five trophies, becoming the first band in two decades to win both Artist of the Year and Group of the Year. At the same time, after veering between modern rock, pop, Southern rock and praise & worship music on its previous albums, Third Day’s diverse influences all combined in a cohesive musical melting pot on this album.

“It’s the coming together of all the different identities that we’ve had,” Lee says, “all summed up in this one project.”

Come Together unifies not only the hearts, minds and spirits of Third Day, but also the multiple styles that have represented the band’s recorded past: tuneful, edgy sounds in the title track, cagey pop in “My Heart,” Southern rock shades—crossed with a Rolling Stones/Black Crowes flavor—in “Still Listening,” and worshipful attitudes in the obviously titled “Sing Praises.”

“Come together: that’s the essence of what being a band is about,” Anderson says. “It’s the five of us, plus the huge support team of 50-plus people. We go out and do our own things. We go to our own houses; we have our own families; we have five different personalities and five different denominational backgrounds and perspectives on life. But when we come together as a band, it’s something special.”

Get a behind the scenes look at how Come Together was recorded here.