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.
Incredible
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't believe you chose someone like me
When I've done nothing to deserve it, no
I feel so blessed 'cause you give me
You best
Your love is nothing less than incredible
I'll take a little time out
Back on everything
I've been through
All my ups 'n' downs
Would still be ups 'n' downs if
If it wasn't for you
[Chorus]
I tried it without you
Can't do it without you
Never again will I try
You came and you love me
And oh how you loved me
Somehow I just don't know why
Lord you mean just
The whole world to me
Without you
I don't know
Where I would be
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Mary Mary's "Incredible" are a representation of the singer's journey of personal growth and their realization of the importance of having someone who loves and supports them unconditionally. The chorus highlights the disbelief the singer feels that someone as special as their partner has chosen to love them, despite their perceived shortcomings. They acknowledge that they have done nothing to deserve this love but feel truly blessed to have received it. The phrase "Your love is nothing less than incredible" reinforces the magnitude of this love in their lives.
In the second verse, the singer takes a moment to reflect on their life before their partner's love became a constant presence. They recognize that they have had their fair share of ups and downs, but without their partner's love, these events would still have been a rollercoaster of emotions. The singer sees their partner's love as a stabilizing force that has changed their life for the better.
The final verse is a declaration of the importance of their partner's love in their life. The singer admits that they cannot go through life without their partner's love and support. The phrase "Somehow, I just don't know why" suggests that the singer is aware of their undeserving nature but is grateful for the love they have received. The song's overall theme is that love, when given selflessly and unconditionally, has the power to transform a person's life and make them feel truly blessed.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe you chose someone like me
I am astonished that you selected someone like myself
When I've done nothing to deserve it, no
As I have not done anything to merit such love and attention
I feel so blessed 'cause you give me
I am constantly filled with gratitude because you provide me
You best
You provide me with your greatest and most exceptional characteristics
Your love is nothing less than incredible
Your affection is nothing but amazing and exemplary
I'll take a little time out
I'll take a brief moment of seclusion
Just to think a little while
Simply to ponder for a short time
Back on everything
Reflecting on everything
I've been through
I experienced in my life
All my ups 'n' downs
Every up and down moment in my life
Would still be ups 'n' downs if
These experiences would remain the same even if
If it wasn't for you
Your presence and influence were absent
I tried it without you
I attempted to accomplish it without your involvement
Can't do it without you
I am incapable of doing it without you
Never again will I try
I will never try that again
You came and you love me
You were present and adored me
And oh how you loved me
And oh how greatly you loved me
Somehow I just don't know why
For some reason, I cannot comprehend why
Lord you mean just
Lord, you mean everything
The whole world to me
You are the entire world to me
Without you
In the absence of your presence
I don't know
I am uncertain
Where I would be
As to where I would be
I can't believe you chose someone like me
I am astonished that you selected someone like myself
When I've done nothing to deserve it, no
As I have not done anything to merit such love and attention
I feel so blessed 'cause you give me
I am constantly filled with gratitude because you provide me
You best
You provide me with your greatest and most exceptional characteristics
Your love is nothing less than incredible
Your affection is nothing but amazing and exemplary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERICA ATKINS-CAMPBELL, ERICA MONIQUE ATKINS-CAMPBELL, TRECINA ATKINS-CAMPBELL, WARRYN CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind