Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Her big break came with a win on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion and the Cocoanut Grove.
She soon became one of the country's most popular headliners and a guest on such television variety shows as The Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, The Bell Telephone Hour, and The Hollywood Palace, while recording for the Coral, Signature, and Motown labels. Among her hits were You're Gonna Love My Baby and Bobby. In the early 60s, Barbara made several musical shorts for Scopitone, a franchise of coin-operated machines that showed what were then the forerunners of today's music videos.
McNair's acting career began on television, guesting on series such as Dr. Kildare, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's Heroes and McMillan and Wife. She caught the attention of the movie-going public with her much-publicized nude sequences in the gritty crime drama If He Hollers Let Him Go (1968) opposite Raymond St. Jacques, then donned a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore for Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley's last feature film. She portrayed Sidney Poitier's wife in They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The Organization (1971).
McNair's Broadway credits include The Body Beautiful (1958), No Strings (1962), and a revival of The Pajama Game (1973).
McNair was one of the very first African-American entertainers to host her own primetime television variety series, but it lasted only from 1969-71, despite the wattage provided by A-list guests like Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher. She & her third husband Rick Manzi were arrested for heroin possesion in 1972, and even after she was cleared of the charge, career offers began to dwindle . In 1976, her husband, Rick Manzi, was murdered, and Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Jimmy "The Weasel" Frattiano later claimed in his book The Last Mafioso that Manzi had been a Mafia associate who tried to put a contract on the life of a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had a legal dispute. The ensuing publicity did little to help McNair's floundering career.
Her recordings include Livin' End, I Enjoy Being a Girl, and The Ultimate Motown Collection, a 2-CD set with 48 tracks that include her two albums for the label plus a non-album single and B-side and an entire LP that never was released.
Into her seventies, McNair resided in the Los Angeles area, playing tennis and skiing to keep in shape on a regular basis and touring on occasion. She died at age 72 on February 4, 2007 after developing a skull based tumor that was originally overlooked. By the time it was diagnosed it was inoperable.
For Once In My Life
Barbara McNair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone I’ve needed so long
For once unafraid I can go where life leads me and somehow I know I’ll be strong
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Who have my dreams come true
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me
Not like it's hurt me before
For once I have someone I know won't desert me
I’m not alone anymore
For once I can say
This is mine you can’t take it
As long as I know I have love I can make it
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
For once I can say
This is mine you can’t take it
As long as I know I have love we can make it
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
The lyrics to Barbara McNair's "For Once In My Life" convey a sense of newfound hope and optimism. The singer declares that they finally have someone in their life who needs them just as much as they need that person. This someone is described as warm and loving, and the singer feels unafraid to go wherever life may lead them with this person by their side.
The singer has been able to touch what their heart used to dream of, showing that they are now living the reality that they once thought was only possible in their dreams. They express a sense of gratitude towards this person, who has somehow made their dreams come true. There is a sense of joy and fulfillment in the way that the singer describes this newfound love.
The second half of the song continues with a declaration of strength and determination. The singer no longer wants to be hurt by sorrow as they have been before, but now they have someone who they know won't desert them. They declare that no one can take away what they have, as long as they have love. The song ends on a triumphant note, with the singer expressing gratitude for finally having someone who needs them.
Line by Line Meaning
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Having someone who truly needs me is a new and profound experience for me.
Someone I’ve needed so long
I have been yearning for someone like them for a very long time.
For once unafraid I can go where life leads me and somehow I know I’ll be strong
With this person by my side, I feel brave enough to face any challenge that life throws my way.
For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of
My deepest desires and dreams are finally within reach.
Long before I knew someone warm like you who have my dreams come true
Even before meeting them, I always hoped for someone like them to come into my life and make all my dreams come true.
For once in my life I won't let sorrow hurt me not like it's hurt me before
Having this person in my life has given me the strength to let go of my past sadness and not allow it to control my present and future happiness.
For once I have someone I know won't desert me I’m not alone anymore
I finally have someone who I can depend on and who won't abandon me, making me feel less lonely and more supported.
For once I can say This is mine you can’t take it As long as I know I have love I can make it
With this newfound love in my life, I feel like I have something that is truly mine and that no one can take away from me. As long as we have each other, we can overcome any obstacle.
As long as I know I have love we can make it
Knowing that we have each other's love, there is no challenge or difficulty we can't face and overcome together.
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
I feel grateful and lucky to finally have someone in my life who truly needs and loves me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronald N. Miller, Orlando Murden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Valerie Schirmaier
Sung with so much feeling and emotion. Beautiful.
Bastien De Zutter
What's your source for the recording date?
Carefree6714
Barbara McNair was gorgeous, had singing chops as great as they come and for a good stretch was a superstar in the entertainment industry. I don’t really know what took the wind out of her sails, but it’s a shame her career more or less evaporated. She was awesome.
Antonio Jiménez
Muchas gracias!
LadyLakeMusic
L🌸VE
Rosolyn McNeese
She reminds me of a beautiful black Raquel Welch.
radiofriendlybox
the dushon demo is definitely better. the production on this version overpowers mcnair’s vocals.