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.
Wade In The Water
Mary Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wade in the water
Wade in the water children
Wade in the water
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
I stepped in the water and the water was coldDon't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
Said it chilled my body but not my soul
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
Chorus
Well I went to the water one day to pray
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
And my soul got happy and I stayed all day
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
Chorus
There is love(in the water)
In the water(in the water)
There is joy(in the water)
In your water(in the water)
Your peace (in the water)
Is in the water(in the water)
Your deliverance(in the water)
Is in the water(in the water)
Oh step in, step in
(in the water)
Joy is in the water
In the water(in the water)
Oh step in, step in(in the water)
Love is in the water
(in the water)
Oh step in(in the water)
For deliverance(in the water)
In the water yeah
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
God's gonna trouble the water
God's gonna trouble the water
(yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah)
God's gonna trouble the water (ooh)
God's gonna trouble the water
Oh wade in the water
Mary Mary's song "Wade In The Water" is a modern rendition of the traditional African-American spiritual composed during the time of slavery. The spiritual was used as a way to communicate codes of escape to those who were enslaved, with the lyrics referencing the underground railroad and bodies of water being a way to avoid being captured. The song is a call to "wade in the water" and find salvation, freedom, and hope in the midst of difficult circumstances.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Wade in the water" which can be interpreted to mean that to find healing and freedom, one must take the leap of faith and immerse themselves in the water. The lyrics also suggest that even though the water may be cold or chilling, the spirit is not affected. The song is encouraging listeners to step into the water and find the love, joy, peace, and deliverance they need.
In conclusion, Mary Mary's song "Wade In The Water" is an interpretation of the traditional spiritual that speaks to finding salvation and freedom. It encourages listeners to trust in faith and take a leap into the water, where everything they need can be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Chorus
The chorus encourages individuals to step into the water and go immerse themselves. They are reminded that if they do, God will trouble the water.
I stepped in the water and the water was cold
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
Said it chilled my body but not my soul
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
The verse talks about someone stepping into the water and finding it cold. The person acknowledges that the water might trouble them, but it will not harm their soul.
Well I went to the water one day to pray
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
And my soul got happy and I stayed all day
Don't you know that God's gonna trouble the water
The verse is about a person who went to the water to pray. The experience of being in the water made the person's soul happy, and they stayed there all day. The person reminds others that going into the water will also trouble them, but it is worth it.
There is love(in the water)
In the water(in the water)
There is joy(in the water)
In your water(in the water)
Your peace (in the water)
Is in the water(in the water)
Your deliverance(in the water)
Is in the water(in the water)
Oh step in, step in
(in the water)
Joy is in the water
In the water(in the water)
Oh step in, step in
(in the water)
Love is in the water
(in the water)
Oh step in(in the water)
For deliverance(in the water)
In the water yeah
The lines express that the water is not just ordinary water but holds greater significance. Those who step in the water can find love, joy, peace, and deliverance. The repeated appeals to step in the water are reminders that by doing so, an individual can find these things that are present in the water.
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
Everything you need
(in the water)
The lines repeat that everything that an individual needs can be found in the water. It is a reminder that the water is significant and holds answers to their problems.
God's gonna trouble the water
God's gonna trouble the water
(yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah)
God's gonna trouble the water (ooh)
God's gonna trouble the water
Oh wade in the water
The final lines reiterate that if people go into the water, God will trouble the water, and they will find what they seek. The chorus 'wade in the water' encourages people to take the step that they need to find the answers they seek.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROLAND SCHNEIDER, LARS WOLF, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind