Barbara Mason (born August 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Barbara Mason (born August 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American soul[1] singer with several R&B and pop hits in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her self-written 1965 hit song "Yes, I'm Ready".

Mason initially focused on songwriting when she entered the music industry in her teens. As a performer, though, she had a major hit single with her third release in 1965, "Yes, I'm Ready" (#5 pop, #2 R&B). She had modest success throughout the rest of the decade on the small Arctic label, run by her manager, top Philadelphia disc-jockey, Jimmy Bishop. She reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 again in 1965 with "Sad, Sad Girl", and "Oh How It Hurts" in 1967. A two-year stay with National General Records, run by a film production company, produced one album and four singles which failed to find success.[citation needed]

In the 1970s, Mason signed to Buddah Records and toughened her persona, singing about sexual love and infidelity with an uncommon frankness at the time in songs like "Bed and Board", "From His Woman to You", and "Shackin' Up" and would interrupt her singing to deliver straight-talking 'raps' about romance. She also continued to write some of her new material. Curtis Mayfield produced her on a cover version of Mayfield's own "Give Me Your Love", which restored her to the pop Top 40 and R&B Top Ten in 1973; "From His Woman to You" (the response to Shirley Brown's single "Woman to Woman") and "Shackin' Up", produced by former Stax producer Don Davis in Detroit were also solid soul sellers in the mid-1970s.

Mason also sang vocals on the tracks "Sheba Baby," "I'm In Love With You," "A Good Man Is Gone," and "She Did It" on the soundtrack for the 1975 Pam Grier film, Sheba, Baby.[2]

After leaving Buddah Records in 1975 after two top ten R&B hits, she only dented the charts periodically on small labels. They included "I Am Your Woman, She Is Your Wife", which was produced in 1978 by Weldon McDougal who had produced her first major success, "Yes I'm Ready", and later in 1984, "Another Man" on West End Records.

Mason started to concentrate on running her own publishing company in the late 1980s, but continues to perform occasionally. She released a new CD, Feeling Blue, in September 2007. Mason was still performing to sold-out audiences in 2016. Her most recent show was at the Terrance Theater in Long Beach, California. Mason was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame on March 1, 2016.

Forever
Barbara Mason Lyrics

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Oh, my darling I know you love me now
But how long will it last

Darling, forever, forever
You can break my heart
Forever
If you want to
I′ll play the part

Ooh, ooh, just to be with you
Forever (forever)

Darling, forever, forever
You can call me, please
Take my love for granted
I'll always be
Just a fool
Ooh, ooh, just to be with you

I′ll be your slave
For the rest of, of my days
Love you more
In so, so many ways
Just to be with you
Thrills me through and through

And darling, forever, forever
You can call me, please
Take my love for granted
I'll always be
Just a fool
Ooh, ooh, just to be with you

Darling, forever, forever
No matter what you do or say

Forever, forever
I'll be your slave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Forever" by Barbara Mason depict a love story where the singer is deeply in love with someone and willing to do anything to be with them. The song expresses both the intensity and vulnerability of love, as well as the fear of whether it will last. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and devotion, where the singer is willing to play any part and be a fool just to be with their beloved.

The repetition of the word "forever" throughout the song emphasizes the desire for a long-lasting love, despite the uncertainty expressed in the beginning of the song. The singer is willing to have their heart broken and still remain devoted, indicating their unwavering commitment. The lyrics convey the idea that the singer will be a willing slave to their beloved for the rest of their days, seeking thrills and experiencing love in various ways.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, my darling I know you love me now
I understand that you have feelings for me at this moment

But how long will it last
But I wonder how much longer those feelings will endure

Darling, forever, forever
My love for you is timeless, never-ending

You can break my heart
You have the power to hurt me emotionally

Forever
But even if you do, it won't change my love for you

If you want to
If you so desire

I'll play the part
I will pretend and act the way you want me to

Ooh, ooh, just to be with you
I'm willing to go to great lengths just to be with you

Darling, forever, forever
My love for you is timeless, never-ending

You can call me, please
You can reach out to me and ask for my presence

Take my love for granted
Assume that my love will always be there