For Once In My Life – English Lyrics

• By: Stevie Wonder
• Album: Not specified

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and “For Once in My Life” is a perfect starting point. Its clear, repetitive lyrics make it easy to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to love, strength, and happiness. The song's infectious energy and positive message will keep you motivated as you sing along and improve your English skills.

[English]

For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

Someone I've needed so long

For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me

Somehow I know I'll be strong

For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of

Long before I knew

Ooh, someone warm like you

Would make my dreams come true

Yeah, yeah, yeah (For once in my life)

For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me

Not like it's hurt me before (Not like it's hurt me before)

For once, I have something I know won't desert me

I'm not alone anymore (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

(Someone who needs me)

Hey, hey, hey, hey, yeah

(Someone who needs me)

Oh, I'm in love, baby

...

(For once in my life)

...

For once in my life (For once in my life)

I won't let sorrow hurt me

Not like it's hurt me before (Not like it's hurt me before)

For once, I have something I know won't desert me

I'm not alone anymore (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

(Someone who needs me)

Oh, for once in my life

(Someone who needs me)

Yeah, somebody that needs me

(Someone who needs me)

Oh, baby, for once in my life

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death
someone /ˈsʌmwʌn/ A1	noun - some person; somebody
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important. noun - a thing that is essential or very important.
long /lɔŋ/ A1	adjective - measuring a great distance from end to end.
unafraid /ˌʌnəˈfreɪd/ B2	adjective - not afraid; feeling no fear.
strong /strɒŋ/ A1	adjective - having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. noun - a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
warm /wɔːrm/ A2	adjective - having or producing a comfortably high temperature.
true /truː/ A1	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality.
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause physical pain or injury to.
desert /dɪˈzɜːrt/ B2	verb - abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - having no one else present; lonely.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection. verb - feel deep affection for (someone).

Key Grammar Structures

• For once in my life, I have someone who needs me

  ➔ Relative Clause ('who needs me')

  ➔ This line uses a relative clause, introduced by the relative pronoun “who”, to describe the “someone”. The clause “who needs me” modifies the noun “someone”. This demonstrates complex sentence structure.

• Someone I've needed so long

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense ('I've needed') with 'so long'

  ➔ The use of the present perfect tense, “I’ve needed,” emphasizes that the need for this person has continued from the past until the present. “So long” intensifies the duration of this need, indicating a long period of longing. The inversion is also noteworthy (someone I've needed vs I've needed someone).

• For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me

  ➔ Adjective as an adverb ('unafraid'), Subordinate Clause ('where life leads me')

  ➔ “Unafraid” is used as an adverb modifying the verb “go”, indicating the manner in which the speaker can go. The subordinate clause “where life leads me” functions as an adverbial clause of place, describing where the speaker can go.

• Not like it's hurt me before

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of 'sorrow'), Present Perfect Tense ('it's hurt')

  ➔ The word "sorrow" is implied but not explicitly stated. The present perfect "it's hurt" indicates an action that has happened in the past and has relevance to the present.

• I have something I know won't desert me

  ➔ Relative Clause ('I know'), Future Simple Negative ('won't desert')

  ➔ The clause “I know” is a relative clause acting as parenthesis, adding information about how the speaker knows this. “Won't desert” is a contraction of “will not desert,” expressing a strong belief about the future.

• As long as I know I have love, I can make it

  ➔ Conditional Clause ('As long as I know I have love'), Modal Verb ('can make')

  ➔ The phrase “As long as I know I have love” introduces a conditional clause expressing a necessary condition for the speaker to “make it”. The modal verb “can” expresses ability or possibility.