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.
Carol of the Bells
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Hark, how the bells, sweet, silver bells
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear, words of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air
Oh, how they pound, raising their sound
Over here and there, telling their tale
Gaily, they ring while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
Merry, merry, Merry Christmas
Merry, merry, Merry Christmas
On and on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone to every home
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Ding, dong, ding, dong
Hark, how the bells, sweet, silver bells
All seem to say, throw cares away
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold
Ding, dong, that is their song
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear, words of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air
Oh, how they pound, raising their sound
Over here and there, telling their tale
Gaily they ring, while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
Merry, merry, Merry Christmas
Merry, merry, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
The opening lyrics to Mary Mary's version of Carol of the Bells comprise a repeated pattern of four dings followed by four dongs, which serve as a rhythmic foundation for the rest of the song. The bells being referred to in the title and the opening lyrics are sweet and silver, symbolic of the joy and reverence associated with the Christmas season. The bells are also described as conveying a message to "throw cares away" and to celebrate with "good cheer," which reflects the emphasis on coming together and imparting goodwill during the holidays.
The following stanzas amplify the joyful and celebratory mood conveyed by the bell sounds. The lyrics describe the bells as caroling with a "joyful ring" and spreading "words of good cheer from everywhere, filling the air." This signals not only the arrival of the holiday but also the meaning and impact of the season, that it brings people together in a harmonious burst of camaraderie and community spirit. The bells are also said to "pound," raising their sound and telling their tale, which again echoes the centrality of sound and music in the experience of the holiday.
Overall, Mary Mary's Carol of the Bells is a festive and upbeat take on a classic holiday song, with its emphasis on the joy and unity that the season inspires.
Line by Line Meaning
Ding, dong, ding, dong
The sound of the bells ringing joyfully.
Hark, how the bells, sweet, silver bells
Listen to the lovely sound of the bells, which are silver and sweet.
All seem to say, throw cares away
The sound of the bells suggests to forget your worries and enjoy the moment.
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
The occasion of Christmas has arrived, and it brings happiness.
To young and old, meek and the bold
Everyone, regardless of age or character, can enjoy Christmas.
Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song
The song of the bells is simply the sound of joyful ringing.
With joyful ring, all caroling
The bells happily ring like a choir singing carols.
One seems to hear, words of good cheer
It feels like you can hear encouraging and pleasant words everywhere.
From everywhere, filling the air
The atmosphere is filled with the happy sound of good tidings.
Oh, how they pound, raising their sound
The bells resonate powerfully, increasing their volume.
Over here and there, telling their tale
The bells' melody can be heard from many places, telling its story.
Gaily, they ring while people sing
As the bells chime merrily, people join in singing joyful carols.
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
The pleasant songs sung by people celebrate the coming of Christmas.
Merry, merry, Merry Christmas
A cheerful greeting of Merry Christmas is happily repeated.
On and on they send, on without end
The bells' happy sound seems never-ending, carrying on and on.
Their joyful tone to every home
The bells spread their cheerful melody to every home.
Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC
Written by: MYKOLA DMYTROVICH LEONTOVYCH, SEAN KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind