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.
He Said
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He will do it if you give him the chance
And I am telling he's already proud
That he can do anything,
So give him the chance
Now there's been so many times
I called on him
He was there
So now I devoted my life to serving him
It's me for him `cause all the time he
Was there for me
It doesn't matter what the need
No there's no limit, I'll give you anything
All I want is you to trust me
Through my love I'll set you free
[Chorus]
He said I'll go wherever
You want me to go
He said I'll do whatever you want me to do
Now it is a must I testify and
Let everybody know
I live because of you and they can have the same life
That I choose
And when they ask me now
I'll say it's because of you
[Chorus]
Whatever you want from me
What else can I do to make you see
To prove to you I'm everything
That you'll ever need
What else do I have to say
To show you more clearly
That I am, that I am
The beginning and the end
Yes I'm you, everything
You don't know God is the truth, he is
And everything that he said he'll do
He did new whips, new cribs
A few hits, I'm blessed with ice
Blessed with life on top of all that
Yo I'm blessed with Christ
So his heart must be
As big as Texas right
I ain't thinking of the change or
Thinking of the blames
Think of the range,
I ain't even thinking the same
When I think of his name yo
I'm thinking of praise
Wit Fats and Darkchild so close in wit
Mary Mary ah yeah
You know then
But we talking about Christ
Get to know him come on?-
[Chorus]
In Mary Mary's song "He Said," the lyrics speak about trusting in God and giving him the opportunity to do anything that is needed. The song starts by saying that God is willing to do whatever is necessary if given the chance, and the writer urges the listener to trust in him. The singer shares a personal experience of how she called on God repeatedly when she was in trouble, and he was there for her every time. Her life is now dedicated to serving God because he was always there for her. Throughout the song, the message is clear — trust in God, for he has the power to set you free.
The song's chorus reinforces the message that God is willing to do whatever is asked of him; he will go wherever and do whatever is needed. The singer goes on to testify that she lives because of God, and she wants others to experience the same life. The writer further emphasizes this by saying that whatever is needed from her, she is willing to give, underlining the message of trust.
The final verse of the song mentions the singer's blessings, which range from material possessions to a blessed life, but her biggest blessing is her faith in Jesus Christ. She says that when she thinks of him, she thinks of praise, and there is a sense of joy in the song, reflecting the power of faith. The lyrics urge the listener to get to know Christ, and in doing so, to experience the same joy and blessings that the singer has.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatever you need for him to do
No matter what it is that you need help with, God can help you.
He will do it if you give him the chance
If you let God help you, he will.
And I am telling he's already proud
God is proud of what he can do for you.
That he can do anything,
God has the power to do anything and everything.
So give him the chance
Let God help you by trusting him.
Now there's been so many times
There have been many times in the past.
I called on him
I asked God for help.
Regardless of the circumstance
No matter what the situation was.
He was there
God was always there to help.
So now I devoted my life to serving him
I have dedicated my life to serving and trusting God.
It's me for him `cause all the time he
I am here for God because he has always been there for me.
Was there for me
God has helped me in the past.
It doesn't matter what the need
No matter what you need help with.
No there's no limit, I'll give you anything
There is no limit to what I am willing to do for you.
All I want is you to trust me
All God wants is for you to trust him.
Through my love I'll set you free
God's love can help to free you from your troubles.
He said I'll go wherever You want me to go
God is willing to go wherever you need him to.
He said I'll do whatever you want me to do
God will do anything you need him to.
Now it is a must I testify and
I feel compelled to share my story and experiences.
Let everybody know
Tell everyone.
I live because of you and they can have the same life
I am alive because of God, and others can have the same experiences.
That I choose
The life that I have chosen.
And when they ask me now
When people ask me about my experiences.
I'll say it's because of you
I will tell them that God is the reason for my blessings.
Whatever you want from me
Whatever it is that you need from me.
What else can I do to make you see
What more can I do to show you the truth.
To prove to you I'm everything
To show you that God is everything you need.
That you'll ever need
Everything that you will ever need.
What else do I have to say
What more can I say.
To show you more clearly
To make it clearer to you.
That I am, that I am
That God is who he says he is.
The beginning and the end
God is the beginning and the end of all things.
Yes I'm you, everything
God is everything and is a part of everything.
You don't know God is the truth, he is
God is the truth, even if you don't realize it.
And everything that he said he'll do
God will follow through on everything he promises.
He did new whips, new cribs
God has blessed me with material possessions.
A few hits, I'm blessed with ice
I have been successful and have many blessings.
Blessed with life on top of all that
I have been blessed with a good life in addition to material possessions.
Yo I'm blessed with Christ
I am blessed to have Christ in my life.
So his heart must be
Christ's heart must be.
As big as Texas right
Very big and loving.
I ain't thinking of the change or
I am not thinking about financial gain or change.
Thinking of the blames
I am not thinking about blaming anyone.
Think of the range,
Instead, I am thinking about the vastness of God's love.
I ain't even thinking the same
My thinking has changed since I have found God.
When I think of his name yo
When I think of God.
I'm thinking of praise
I am thinking about how great and deserving of praise God is.
Wit Fats and Darkchild so close in wit Mary Mary ah yeah
This is a reference to the people the song was created with.
But we talking about Christ
But, really, this song is about Christ.
Get to know him come on?-
Come on, get to know Christ!
He said I'll go wherever You want me to go
God is willing to go wherever you need him to.
He said I'll do whatever you want me to do
God will do anything you need him to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LASHAWN AMEEN DANIELS, RODNEY JERKINS, RODNEY ROY JERKINS, NORA SHENA PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind