Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell were born in Inglewood,
California. The Campbell (formerly Atkins) sisters grew up as part of a large family of nine children in Inglewood, California. Their parents are Thomasina (An evangelist and choir director at the Evangelistic Church of God in Christ) and Eddie (a youth minister). Because of their proximity in age, the two singers grew up closer to one another than to any of their seven siblings. The sisters quickly entered the world of church choirs, traveling gospel shows, and some television productions. All nine Atkins children were on the Bobby Jones Gospel show on BET.
The sisters had their sights set on making music a career and enrolled at El Camino College to study voice. There they ran up against the divide between academic music studies and the popular musical world. "We had to study classical and sing arias, which was fine," Erica told the Times, "but the teachers would tell us if we sang anything else it would damage our instrument." The sisters tours with the 1995 Michael Matthews traveling gospel show Mama I'm Sorry and Sneaky. Each sister subsequently toured as a backup singer for a variety of R&B acts including Brandy.
A meeting with producer Warryn Campbell led to their song publishing deal with the giant EMI music conglomerate and a series of songs that landed on the soundtracks. They wrote "Dance" and performed it with Robin S. for the soundtrack to the 1998 film Dr. Dolittle; "Let Go, Let God" for The Prince of Egypt Inspirational, one of three soundtrack albums for the film; and songs of theirs were recorded by Yolanda Adams and 702. At the same time, Mary Mary as a musical entity took shape.
The sisters' profile in the gospel industry was raised when their songs "Time To Change" and "Yeah" were recorded by Yolanda Adams on the Mountain High... Valley Low CD. The duo was subsequently signed to Columbia Records/C2 Records and decided to perform under the name Mary Mary, honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. They were first gospel act to record for the industry giant Columbia Records since Tramaine Hawkins in the mid-1990s. Their first single, "Shackles (Praise You)" became a crossover hit, being popular with gospel, R&B, and pop audiences. It was a Top 10 R&B and Top 40 pop hit, and peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became the first gospel song in five years to crack the R&B top ten and gained wide exposure on the MTV video cable channel. The album was a huge success because it offered a younger, hipper version of gospel that audiences could relate to.
Their first album, Thankful (Mary Mary Album) in May 2000, which would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, and a second single, "I Sings". Peaking at #1 on the Gospel album chart and at #59 of the overall Top 200 chart, Thankful was certified Platinum for sales of 1 million copies in the USA. Both singles were also hits in the UK and Europe, and to this day remain popular with Christian youths in the US, Latin America, and Europe.
With their second album Incredible, the duo was able to maintain their success. The record, soon after its release, went to #1 on the Gospel chart, and was able to enter the Top 20 of the Top 200 album chart. Incredible was later certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold in the United States. The album's singles In The Morning and I Try became relatively large hits within the contemporary gospel nation.
After taking time off to have children, their third album Mary Mary appeared. It became the duo's first album to enter the Top 10 on Billboard and was later on certified Gold for sales of 500,000 copies. The first single "Heaven" containing a sample from seventies soul trio the Honey Cone's "Want Ads". Heaven made history and broke chart records as it had an unprecedented 9 week run as the #1 record on Billboard's Gospel Radio chart. The second single, "Yesterday", also became a hit, especially on the Adult R&B charts where it peaked at #10. On the R&B/Hip Hop chart, the song became their second biggest hit since "Shackles" in 2000, reaching the #53 spot so far.
On October 10, 2006`, the recording group released their most recent album inspired by Christmas songs and is called A Mary Mary Christmas.
Are You Ready
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La la la la la la la
This is what she said
I'm leavin' the ghetto been plannin' for a while
I'm packin' up my dreams right now
Good morning to the future good night to the past
It's gonna be a good day
The big town and the green lights
On a wing and a prayer and a one way flight
Are you ready are you ready
You talk about it everyday
And yeah you've got a lot to say but
Are you ready are you ready
Gonna take a lot of preparation
To reach your destination so
La la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
Now you take a flight to Egypt,
Paris or Dubai then on to the next place
In your mind
But why you wanna go so far
When it won't change who you are
On Savon Road or the ghetto
Looking for the good life
The big town and the green lights
On a wing and a prayer and a one way flight
But are you ready are you ready
You talk about it everyday
And yeah you've got a lot to say but
Are you ready are you ready
Gonna take a lot of preparation
To reach your destination so
La la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
Oh doesn't really matter to ya
If you can get away
Don't you know that where your mind is
Is where you're gonna stay
I suggest you make the best of your time
Just keep God on your mind
And I'm sure in time you'll be ready
Are you ready
You talk about it everyday
And yeah you've got a lot to say but
Are you ready are you ready
It's gon' take a lot of preparation
To reach your destination
La la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
La la la la get your mind right
You gotta get it together get it together
Everybody everybody come on now
Get your mind right eh
The song "Are You Ready" by Mary Mary is all about making big life changes and pursuing your dreams, but also recognizing the importance of staying true to yourself and your roots. The first verse of the song shows us that the singer has been planning to leave the ghetto for a long time and is ready for a new beginning. She is leaving behind her past and looking towards the future with hope and excitement. However, she reminds us that it takes a lot of preparation and effort to reach our goals, and we must have the right mindset in order to achieve them.
The chorus of the song asks the listener directly if they are ready to pursue their dreams. The track emphasizes that it’s not just about talking about your dreams, but actually taking action and making the necessary preparations to achieve them. The second verse implies that you don’t necessarily need to go far in order to find the good life. It is about finding happiness and success within yourself, rather than relying on external factors to bring joy to your life.
Overall, "Are You Ready" encourages listeners to take risks, pursue their dreams, but also remember to stay grounded in reality and true to themselves throughout the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
This is what she said
Mary Mary is introducing her message to the reader.
I'm leavin' the ghetto been plannin' for a while
Mary Mary is leaving her past behind and planning to move up in the world.
I'm packin' up my dreams right now
Mary Mary is excited to pursue her goals and make them a reality.
Good morning to the future good night to the past
Mary Mary is saying goodbye to her old life and welcoming a new day, a new chapter.
Looking for the good life
Mary Mary is determined to improve her life and find happiness.
The big town and the green lights
Mary Mary is looking towards the city life and all its opportunities.
On a wing and a prayer and a one way flight
Mary Mary is taking a chance and has faith in her new journey despite the unknown.
Are you ready are you ready
Mary Mary is asking if you are prepared to chase your dreams.
You talk about it everyday
Mary Mary points out that talking about your dreams is not enough, actions have to follow.
And yeah you've got a lot to say but
Mary Mary is highlighting the importance of taking action instead of just talking.
Gonna take a lot of preparation
Mary Mary acknowledges that reaching your goals takes hard work and planning.
To reach your destination so
Mary Mary understands the importance of long-term investment and patience when pursuing your dreams.
La la get your mind right
Mary Mary is encouraging the reader to focus on their goals and remove any distractions.
Now you take a flight to Egypt, Paris or Dubai then on to the next place
Mary Mary is pointing out the tendency to think that happiness can only be found by traveling to exotic locations.
In your mind
Mary Mary is highlighting that happiness and success come from within oneself.
But why you wanna go so far
Mary Mary is questioning why people think they need to go far away to find success.
When it won't change who you are
Mary Mary suggests that a change of location won't change who you are or solve your problems.
On Savon Road or the ghetto
Mary Mary is pointing out that one can find happiness and success anywhere and it's not limited to geographic location.
Oh doesn't really matter to ya
Mary Mary is pointing out the tendency to not care about one's mental health and focus only on external things.
If you can get away
Mary Mary is pointing out the tendency to run away from one's problems instead of facing them.
Don't you know that where your mind is
Mary Mary is reminding the reader that mental space is crucial when pursuing one's goals.
Is where you're gonna stay
Mary Mary is highlighting that one's thought process determines their success and happiness.
I suggest you make the best of your time
Mary Mary is advising the reader to use their time wisely and make the most of it.
Just keep God on your mind
Mary Mary is advising the reader to have faith and keep a positive attitude when pursuing their goals.
And I'm sure in time you'll be ready
Mary Mary is reminding the reader that success takes time and patience.
You gotta get it together get it together
Mary Mary is encouraging the reader to take action and get their life together.
Everybody everybody come on now
Mary Mary is calling out to everybody to take charge of their lives and achieve their dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERICA ATKINS-CAMPBELL, TRECINA ATKINS-CAMPBELL, WARRYN CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind