Flack was the first, and remains the only, solo artist to win the Read Full BioRoberta Flack (born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on 10th February 1937 in Black Mountain, North Carolina) is an American singer and musician. She is best known for her classic #1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "Feel Like Makin' Love", and for "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You", two of her many duets with Donny Hathaway.
Flack was the first, and remains the only, solo artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year on two consecutive years: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" won at the 1973 Grammys as did "Killing Me Softly with His Song" at the 1974 Grammys.
Flack performs in the areas of jazz, soul, and folk, and is best known for singles such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song", which won the 1974 Grammy for Record of the Year, and "Where Is the Love", which was one of her many duets with Donny Hathaway.
Flack began her professional career recording for Atlantic Records without much success, until one of her earliest recordings, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (1969), was included on the soundtrack to Clint Eastwood's directorial debut Play Misty for Me; it became a number-one hit in 1972.
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Roberta Flack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him to listen for a while
And there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish but he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He sang as if he knew me in all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there
And he just kept on singing, singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
La, la, la, la, la, la, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, la
La
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly
He was strumming my pain
Yeah, he was singing my life
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
The lyrics to Roberta Flack’s song Killing Me Softly with His Song paint a picture of a young woman who is captivated by a musician who, through his songwriting and playing, is able to convey the deepest pain and emotions that she has been feeling. She is drawn to him and listens to his music intently, feeling as though he is singing about her life experiences. The musician’s lyrics and melody resonate deeply with her, to the point where she feels as though he is “killing her softly” with his song. She becomes emotionally overwhelmed by his lyrics that seem to tell her whole life story and she feels exposed and vulnerable.
As the musician plays on, the woman becomes more and more drawn into his world. She feels like he understands her struggles better than anyone else ever could and she is in awe of his talent. At the same time, she is deeply self-conscious, feeling embarrassed by the feelings his music is bringing up in her in front of a crowd. The lyrics suggest that the musician is able to sing about the woman’s innermost thoughts and emotions, expressing them with such accuracy that it feels like he is actually reading her thoughts.
Overall, the song tells the story of the impact that music and art can have on the human psyche. It shows how a talented musician can connect with and move people on a deep emotional level, to the point where their songs can feel like a reflection of a listener’s own experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Strumming my pain with his fingers
He was playing the guitar and hitting every chord that resonates with my internal struggles, reminding me of my pain.
Singing my life with his words
He was performing with lyrics that were so personal to me, describing my past experiences that I thought only myself knew about.
Killing me softly with his song
Although his beautiful performance was soothing, it was also a painful experience that made me feel like he was exposing my innermost thoughts and emotions.
Telling my whole life with his words
Through his verses, he was telling the story of my entire being, laying it all out for the world to see.
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style
Rumors of his talent preceded him, so I went to check him out for myself. I had to find out what made him so special.
And so I came to see him to listen for a while
Without any expectations, I simply showed up, hoping to be entertained or moved.
And there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes
When I finally saw him, I noticed his youth and fresh face, which made me a stranger to him, as well.
I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd
His performance was so spellbinding that I felt like I was on fire, yet I also worried about standing out among the others who were enjoying the show with me.
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud
Metaphorically, it seemed like he had read my innermost thoughts and secrets, and then he was singing them for everyone around us to hear.
I prayed that he would finish but he just kept right on
Although I was uncomfortable, I hoped it would all end soon. However, he refused to stop, as he had more to say and convey.
He sang as if he knew me in all my dark despair
As he was performing, it felt like he knew me better than anyone else and knew about the times in my life when I was really struggling.
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there
Even though I felt like he knew me, it was apparent that I was insignificant to him. It was as if I was transparent and he was only focused on delivering his message.
And he just kept on singing, singing clear and strong
He didn't let up on his delivery or his message, continuing with the same amount of intensity and enthusiasm.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
La, la, la, la, la, la, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, la
La
The final notes of the song were hopeful and enduring, leading us all to a place of promise and potential.
He was strumming my pain
Yeah, he was singing my life
The performer was bringing to life every painful and joyful moment that I had ever experienced, making my past come to life in a haunting way.
Killing me softly with his song
It was as if he was tearing away at the very essence of me, slowly but methodically breaking me down with each word and note.
Telling my whole life with his words
His words became more than just lyrics; they were windows into my soul, showing everyone around me everything they had ever wanted to know about me.
Killing me softly with his song
The agonizing experience of having my innermost thoughts exposed was breaking me down from within, yet I couldn't look away.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robin Spielberg, Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Vasconcelos
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
To listen for a while
And there he was, this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there
And he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Paulo Eduardo
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
To listen for a while
And there he was, this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there
And he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Mary Winter
voice & guitar project Your comment made me think a bit, of how feelings from the past can’t come back. That’s incredibly sad in a way… but maybe that’s what makes them so beautiful, they are unique and only happen once.
Maybe that’s why we cherish them so much, because we can never truly live those wonderful, little moments again. I’m so thankful books, photography, music and videos exist, because even if we can’t live the moments again we can at least have a small piece of who we were again.
In my case, now at 22 y.o, the music that brings me back to those days without worries is of course different; Ciara’s I found myself, Little Wonders by Rob Thomas, the entire Wall-e soundtrack, Through the Rain by Mariah Carey… but Killing me Softly is now part of my 20s memories.
In a way, I’m excited for the future, because I now wonder what memories I’ll have with this song, the dreams I’ll dream while listening to it in a few years, the bitter nostalgia.
Times won’t come back, so we better make some good memories with the music we listen! So we can look back fondly and remember with a smile ^^
Melon Lemon
Rasguñando mi dolor con sus dedos
Cantando mi vida con sus palabras
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2)
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
Escuché que él cantó una buena canción, escuché que tiene un estilo , asi que vine a verlo y escucharlo por un rato y ahí estaba él, este chico joven, un completo extraño para mi.
Rasguñando mi dolor con sus dedos
Cantando mi vida con sus palabras
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2)
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
Me sentí sonrojada como si fuera fiebre
Avergonzada por la multitud
Sentí que él había encontrado todas mis cartas y las había leído fuertemente
Estaba rezando para que pudiera terminar
Pero él solo continuó
Rasguñando mi dolor con sus dedos
Cantando mi vida con sus palabras
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2)
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
Él cantó como si me conociera
En toda mi oscura desesperación
Y luego él miró justo atravesandome a mi
Como si yo no estuviera y permaneció cantando
Cantando fuerte y claro
Rasguñando mi dolor con sus dedos
Cantando mi vida con sus palabras
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2)
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
………
Rasguñando mi dolor con sus dedos
Cantando mi vida con sus palabras
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2)
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
Él estaba rasguñando mi dolor
Si él estaba cantando mi vida
Matandome suavemente con su canción (x2 )
Contando mi vida completa con sus palabras
Matándome suavemente con su canción
Diane
I fell in love with this song when it was first introduced in the early 70's! I played it over and over! Then one late afternoon my husband and I went to Disneyland in Orange County Ca.! It was starting to get dark when I heard the song "Killing me Softly with his Song" and I thought someone had put on the record with Roberta Flack at Disneyland! To my utter surprise out on stage there stood the real Roberta Flack singing the song IN PERSON! To this day I cannot believe my great luck at seeing the great Roberta Flack singing this wonderful song LIVE in front of me! I will never forget that day ever! She was wonderful!
Jason Max
That must be such a wonderful memory. How special :)
ernjuani
Diane so cool. It’s a great song done so well by Roberta.
Diane
@Jason Max It was weird and great!
Diane
@ernjuani I still love this song!
Mary Fava
touching :)
Kwakusankofa
I am 59 years old this takes me back getting dressed for school in 1973,i can see me and my brother with our mother, music like this brings tears of joy and pain, my mother was a true queen the way she loved ,nurture and cared for the family i miss her everyday 🖤♾🖤
wwwonderful
She was surely a great lay
TheSongwritersGuild
You're so lucky. Not everyone can have a good memory of their mother.
Gabriel Mota
Damn my mom wasn’t even born during that time