Born Margaret Nixon McEathron in Altadena, California, United States, to Charles Nixon and Margaret Elsa (née Wittke) McEathron, Nixon was a child actress and also began singing at an early age in choruses, including performing solos with the Roger Wagner Chorale. She went on to study singing and opera with Thomas Noble MacBurney, Carl Ebert, Jan Popper, Boris Goldovsky and Sarah Caldwell. Nixon's career in film started in 1948 when she sang the voices of the angels heard by Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Arc (1948). The same year, she did her first dubbing work when she provided Margaret O'Brien's singing voice in 1948's Big City and then 1949's The Secret Garden. She also dubbed Marilyn Monroe's high notes in "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). She appeared on Broadway in 1954 in The Girl in Pink Tights. In 1956, she worked closely with Deborah Kerr to supply the star's singing voice for the film version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I, and the next year she again worked with Kerr to dub her voice in An Affair to Remember. That year, she also sang for Sophia Loren in Boy on a Dolphin. In 1960, she had an on-screen chorus role in Can-Can. In 1961's West Side Story, the studio kept her work on the film (as the singing voice of Natalie Wood's Maria) a secret from the actress, and Nixon also dubbed Rita Moreno's singing in the film's "Tonight" quintet. She asked the film's producers for, but did not receive, any direct royalties from her work on the film, but Leonard Bernstein contractually gave her 1/4 of one percent of his personal royalties from it. In 1962, she also sang Wood's high notes in Gypsy. For My Fair Lady in 1964, she again worked with the female lead of the film, Audrey Hepburn, to perform the songs of Hepburn's character Eliza. Because of her uncredited dubbing work in these films, Time magazine called her "The Ghostess with the Mostest".
Nixon made a special guest appearance on Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts broadcast that aired April 9, 1961, entitled "Folk Music in the Concert Hall". She sang three "Songs of the Auvergne" by Canteloube. Before My Fair Lady was released in theatres in 1964, Nixon played Eliza in a production at New York City Center. Nixon's first onscreen appearance was as Sister Sophia in the 1965 film The Sound of Music. In the DVD commentary to the film, director Robert Wise comments that audiences were finally able to see the woman whose voice they knew so well. In 1967, she was the singing voice of Princess Serena in a live action and animated version of Jack and the Beanstalk on NBC. Also in the 1960s, Nixon made concert appearances.
Nixon taught at the California Institute of Arts from 1969 to 1971 and joined the faculty of the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, in 1980, where she taught for many years. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she hosted a children's television show in Seattle on KOMO-TV channel 4 called Boomerang, winning four Emmy Awards as best actress, and made numerous other television appearances on variety shows and as a guest star in prime time series.
Nixon's opera repertory included Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, both Blonde and Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Violetta in La traviata, the title role in La Périchole and Philine in Mignon. Her opera credits include performances at Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, San Francisco Opera and the Tanglewood Festival among others. In addition to giving recitals, she appeared as an oratorio and concert soloist with the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra among others. Nixon also toured with Liberace and Victor Borge and in her own cabaret shows. On stage, in 1984, she originated the role of Edna Off-Broadway in Taking My Turn, composed by Gary William Friedman, receiving a nomination for a Drama Desk Award. She also originated the role of Sadie McKibben in Opal (1992), and she had a 1997 film role as Aunt Alice in I Think I Do. Under her own name, beginning in the 1980s, Nixon recorded songs by Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Arnold Schönberg, Charles Ives, Aaron Copland and Anton Webern. She was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Classical Performance, Vocal Soloist, one for her Schönberg album and one for her Copland album.
In the 1998 Disney film Mulan, Nixon was the singing voice of "Grandmother Fa". She then returned to the stage, touring the US as Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret in 1997–1998. In 1999, she originated the role of Mrs. Wilson in the premiere of Ballymore, an opera by Richard Wargo at Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was taped for PBS. In regional theatre and Off-Broadway, she played Nurse in Romeo & Juliet and appeared in productions of The King and I and The Sound of Music. She also continued to teach voice and judge vocal competitions.
In 2000, after nearly a half century away, she returned to Broadway as Aunt Kate in James Joyce's The Dead. In 2001, Nixon replaced Joan Roberts as Heidi Schiller in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies. She played Eunice Miller in 70, Girls, 70 in a 2002 production in Los Angeles. In 2003, she was again on Broadway as a replacement in role of Guido's mother in the revival of Nine. Her autobiography, I Could Have Sung All Night, was published in 2006. She performed in the 2008 North American Tour of Cameron Mackintosh's UK revival of My Fair Lady in the role of Mrs. Higgins.
On October 27, 2008, Nixon was presented with the Singer Symposium's Distinguished Artist Award in New York City. She is also an Honorary Member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Women's Music Fraternity.
In 1950, Nixon married the first of her three husbands, Ernest Gold, who composed the theme song to the movie Exodus. They had three children, including singer/songwriter Andrew Gold. They divorced in 1969. She was married to Dr. Lajos "Fritz" Fenster from 1971 to 1975, and to woodwind player Albert Block from 1983 to his death in 2015.
Nixon died in New York from the effects of breast cancer, aged 86.
Maria
Marni Nixon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple she has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the abbey
She's always late for chapel but her penitence is real
I hate to have to say it but I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Maria makes me laugh
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet, a will o-the wisp, a clown
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold our moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her I'm confused
out of focus and bermused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as wheather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling, she's a demon, she's a lamb
She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle, she is wild
She's a riddle, she's a child
She's a headache, she's and angel
She's a girl
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold our moonbeam in your hand?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet, a will o-the wisp, a clown
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold our moonbeam in your hand?
The song "Maria" by Marni Nixon is a song about a young woman named Maria, who is portrayed as a free-spirited and fun-loving person. The first verse talks about how she climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, but she continues on her way, waltzing to mass and even whistling on the stairs. The line "And underneath her wimple she has curlers in her hair" reveals that she's not overly concerned with her appearance and has a carefree attitude towards life. The chorus begins with the question "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" and goes on to explain how unpredictable and flighty she can be, yet still endearing in her own way.
The second verse delves more into Maria's character, highlighting how she's always late for chapel, but has a genuine penitence for her actions. She's always on time for meals though, which shows her love for enjoying life's pleasures. The singer then goes on to say that Maria is not an asset to the abbey, but rather a source of amusement. However, the singer still has affection for Maria and ends the verses by saying "Maria makes me laugh."
Overall, the song "Maria" is a playful and entertaining tribute to a young woman who is seen as a bit of a wild card. It celebrates her carefree attitude towards life while also acknowledging her flaws and how difficult it can be to understand her.
Line by Line Meaning
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee
Maria is an adventurous person who is not afraid of taking risks and getting hurt
Her dress has got a tear
Maria is not interested in her appearance and does not care about the torn dress
She waltzes on her way to mass
Maria enjoys music and loves to dance even when going to church
And whistles on the stair
Maria is a happy and carefree person who whistles while walking up the stairs
And underneath her wimple she has curlers in her hair
Maria is not worried about her looks even in a closed community where she wears a wimple but still puts curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the abbey
Maria loves to sing and does not limit herself from doing it even in the abbey
She's always late for chapel but her penitence is real
While Maria is usually late for chapel, she is genuinely sorry for her mistakes
She's always late for everything except for every meal
Maria is always on time for meals as she enjoys eating
I hate to have to say it but I very firmly feel, Maria's not an asset to the abbey
Although Maria has her own unique qualities, the artist feels that she is not helpful to the abbey's strict and disciplined environment
I'd like to say a word in her behalf, Maria makes me laugh
Despite the artist's negative feelings towards Maria, they admire and enjoy her cheerful and funny personality
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
The singer is wondering how to deal with Maria's unbridled spirit and unpredictable nature
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
The artist is comparing Maria to something that is impossible to control or contain
How do you find a word that means Maria?
The singer is struggling to find a single word that accurately describes Maria's complex personality
A flibbertijibbet, a will o-the wisp, a clown
The singer is using these nonsense words to emphasize Maria's whimsical and unpredictable nature
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
The singer has advice they want to give to Maria
Many a thing she ought to understand
Maria could benefit from listening to the artist's advice
But how do you make her stay and listen to all you say?
The artist is struggling to get Maria to pay attention and take their advice seriously
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
The singer is comparing their struggle to keep Maria in check to trying to control the ocean's waves
When I'm with her I'm confused out of focus and bemused
The singer is admitting that they are also affected by Maria's unpredictable behavior and feel disoriented when around her
And I never know exactly where I am
The artist struggles to understand their own feelings when around Maria
Unpredictable as wheather
The artist compares Maria's unpredictability to the ever-changing weather
She's as flighty as a feather
Maria is as light and unpredictable as a floating feather
She's a darling, she's a demon, she's a lamb
Maria possesses qualities that are both endearing (being sweet and gentle) and troubling (being mischievous and unpredictable)
She'd outpester any pest
Maria has a strong personality and can be even more annoying than someone who is normally considered a pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
Maria's presence may provoke an aggressive reaction from even the most fierce creatures
She can throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
Maria is an unstoppable force who can even disrupt the normally continuous and repetitive movements of a whirling dervish
She is gentle, she is wild
Maria has a complex nature that combines gentleness with wildness
She's a riddle, she's a child
Maria is not easy to figure out, and her behavior can be both immature and playful
She's a headache, she's an angel, she's a girl
Maria can be both a source of frustration and a source of delight, depending on the circumstances
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Richard Rodgers, Oscars Hammerstein II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FatoumataBinetouFall
Credit to genius!
She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple, she has curlers in her hair!
I've even heard her singing in the Abbey!
She's always late for chapel
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal!
I hate to have to say it, but I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey!
I'd like to say a word in her behalf
(Then say it Sister Margaretta)
Maria makes me laugh!
How do you solve a problem like Maria
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibberty-gibbet
A will o' the wisp
A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she'd ought to understand!
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
When I'm with her, I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am!
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling
She's a demon
She's a lamb
She'd out-pester any pest
Drive a hornet from his nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle, she is wild
She's a riddle, she's a child
She's a headache, she's an angel
She's a girl!
How do you solve a problem like Maria
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibberty-gibbet
A will o' the wisp
A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she'd ought to understand!
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
@nino5895
hi stranger with excellent taste
@lanaritchie
Hi 😽
@harmonyparker6725
Helloo
@aniruddhapal2353
Hello.
@racheljarck9012
Heyyyy
@daav1264
hi...
@48g46
I love how they wrote the name of the actresses ,I cant really express how but it makes this even more alive
@theunimpressedbeetch
Evadne Baker didn't sing anything on that song, she played Sister Bernice and only had one line, and a non-singing one... The title didn't credit Peggy Wood who played Mother Abbess, Ada Beth Lee who played Sister Catherine, and Doreen Tryden who played Sister Agatha who all provided vocals on this song
@WaterFlame957
"She's a darling, she's a demon, she's a lamb."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@julyakacarrie6260
WHEN I WATCHED THE MOVIE FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS CLACKING