Killing Me Softly With His Song
Cleo Laine & John Williams 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.

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.

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.
But he just came to singing, singing clear and strong.

Overall Meaning

The song “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack is one of the most iconic pop ballads of all time. The song has been covered numerous times, including a version by Cleo Laine and John Williams. The lyrics are about a woman who is deeply moved by a song that a man is singing. The man's words are so powerful and moving that they seem to be speaking directly to her soul. The song describes the power of music to touch people in profound ways and to convey emotions that cannot be expressed through words alone.

The first verse of the song begins with the singer describing how the man is "strumming my pain with his fingers" and "singing my life with his words." This line conveys a sense of deep empathy and understanding between the man and the singer. It's as though the man is able to sense the singer's pain and is able to articulate it in a way that she cannot. The repetition of the phrase "killing me softly with his song" underscores the intensity of the emotions that the singer is feeling.

The second verse of the song describes how the singer came to hear the man sing. She had heard that he was a talented performer and she wanted to hear him for herself. The description of the singer feeling "all flushed with fever" and "embarrassed by the crowd" gives a sense that this was a deeply personal experience for her. When the man began to sing, it was as though he was speaking directly to her, sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings. The singer is so overwhelmed by the experience that she feels as though the man is "killing [her] softly with his song."

Overall, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a powerful and emotional ballad that explores the power of music to touch people's hearts and souls. It's a testament to the ability of great songwriters and performers to create work that can deeply move and connect with an audience.

Line by Line Meaning

Strumming my pain with his fingers,
He is playing music that reflects my struggles and pain.

singing my life with his words,
The lyrics of his song are embodying my life and experiences.

killing me softly with his song,
His song is having a profound impact on me and affecting me emotionally.

killing me softly with his song,
His song is having such a powerful effect on me that it feels like it is hurting me emotionally.

telling my whole life with his words,
His lyrics express my life story in a way that hits close to home.

killing me softly with his song
His song is continuing to affect me deeply and emotionally.

I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style.
I was told about his great music and distinct sound

And so I came to see him to listen for a while.
I went to one of his performances so I could experience his music firsthand.

And there he was this young boy, a stranger to my eyes.
I saw him, but I didn't recognize or know him personally.

I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd,
Watching him perform made me feel overwhelmed and nervous around the other people.

I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud.
It seemed like he was revealing my deepest, most private thoughts to the audience.

I prayed that he would finish but he just kept right on.
Even though it was uncomfortable for me, he continued singing and performing.

He sang as if he knew me in all my dark despair
He sang with such understanding about my struggles and pain that it felt like he knew me personally.

and then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there.
Even though he sang about my life, it felt like he wasn't aware of my presence or even singing to me directly.

But he just came to singing, singing clear and strong.
Despite all of this, he continued to share his beautiful, powerful voice and music.

Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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