Killing Me Softly With His Song
Agnes Chan Lyrics


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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 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
But then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there
And there he was a stranger
Singing love to me

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

Overall Meaning

"Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Agnes Chan is a poignant song that vividly depicts the powerful effect of music on the human soul. The first verse of the song speaks of someone strumming the singer's pain with their fingers and singing her life with their words. The second verse portrays the singer as a fan attending a concert by a young, unfamiliar boy, someone she had only heard of before but was drawn to because of his unique style. As she listens to his song, she feels an emotional flush and an overwhelming sense of vulnerability as if he is reading her secrets through her letters, which are hidden in her heart but are uncovered by his music. She is unsure if she wants him to continue but he does, drawing her deeper into the experience until she is transported to a place beyond words, where music alone tells the story of her soul.


In the final verses, the singer speaks of feeling known by the singer, that he understands her in all her darkness and despair. But just when she thinks that she is fully understood, the singer looks past her as if she is not there, and suddenly she is just encountering a stranger who is now singing love to her. The song is a heartbreaking portrayal of how music can touch people in ways that words can't, while also reminding us that music is a universal language that can deeply affect people, transcending race, age, and gender.


Line by Line Meaning

Strumming my pain with his fingers
He plays melodies that deeply resonate with my own emotional turmoil


Singing my life with his words
He sings lyrics that mirror the experiences I have been through


Killing me softly with his song
His music is so powerful and deep that it is overwhelming me and touching me in ways I did not expect


Telling my whole life with his words
Through his music, he is telling my life story and conveying emotions that I may not be able to express myself


I heard he sang a good song
I have heard that he is a talented musician


I heard he had a style
I have heard that he has a unique way of performing music


And so I came to see him, to listen for a while
I was curious about his music, so I went to see him perform


And there he was this young boy
When I saw him, I realized that he was very young and inexperienced


A stranger to my eyes
I did not know him personally and had never seen him before


I felt all flushed with fever
I was overcome with emotion and felt hot and feverish


Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt uncomfortable and self-conscious because of all the people around me


I felt he found my letters
I felt that his lyrics were so personal and close to my own experiences that it was like he had read my personal journal


And read each one out loud
He sang about my experiences in a way that felt very vulnerable and exposed


I prayed that he would finish
I wished that his performance would end soon because it was too intense for me


But he kept right on
Despite my discomfort, he maintained his intense performance and did not stop


He sang as if he knew me
He conveyed through his performance a deep understanding of my personal experiences


In all my dark despair
He sang about my most difficult and painful moments


But then he looked right through me
Despite his emotional connection to me through his music, he did not acknowledge my presence and seemed to be lost in his own performance


As if I wasn't there
It felt like he was performing solely for himself and not for his audience




Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@meowmeowmeow5500

Her voice is very sweet 💋🎶🎤

@hoquesikder614

1975 I was in Singapore and always keep on hearing this song.Still I do recall the past days.Phänomenal!!!!

@user-ug1qf4hl4d

Love Ur voice

@pauchiongyu3326

Very nice ❤

@amirudinamir7899

it's golden voice by chen mei ling

@pangpek5645

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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