Killing Me Softly
Fugees 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
(Ha) (yo) (yeah yeah)This is Wyclef, Refugee Camp (L-Boogie up in here)
Praswell (Praswell up in here, haha)
Lil' Base sittin' up here on the bass (Refugees up in here)
While I'm on this, I got my girl L (ah, ah)
One time (one time), one time (one time)
Ayo, L, you know you got the lyrics
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 (one time, one time)
Singing my life with his words (two times, two times)
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'd 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 (one time, one time)
Singing my life with his words (two times, two times)
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Yo, L-Boog, take me to the bridge
Whoa
Woah-oah-ah-ah-ah uh, uh
La-la-la, la, la, la
Whoa, la
Whoa, la (ha, ha, ha, ha)
La-ah-ah-ah-ah
Strumming my pain with his fingers (yes, he was singing my life)
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) yo, put your hands together for L-Boogie
From the Refugee Camp (yeah, yeah)
(Singing my life) up in here, you know how we do, L-Boogie up in here
Wyclef, Praswell, said L-Boogie up in here
Wyclef up in here
My man Lil' Base (Praswell up in here)
Jerry one time
T Rocks up in here, we got Warren up in here
This is how we (Warren up, up in here, Outsiders up here)
We got Fallon up in here, Mulaney, Mulaney's (Refugee Camp, Refugee Camp)
The song "Killing Me Softly" is a passionate ballad about a woman who is so deeply affected by the music of a singer that it feels like he's singing about her, as if he knows her life story. The song was originally written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox for Lori Lieberman, an American folk singer who was deeply moved by a concert given by Don McLean in 1971. After Lieberman shared her experience with Fox and Gimbel, they wrote the song, which eventually became a hit for Roberta Flack in 1973.
In the Fugees' version, Lauryn Hill sings the lead vocals and delivers an emotional performance that captures the song's haunting, melancholy mood. The song's opening lines, "Strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words," describe how the singer's music seems to tap into the singer's emotions and reveal her deepest vulnerabilities. The chorus, "Killing me softly with his song," emphasizes the transformative power of music to evoke feelings of grief and pain.
The rap interlude in the middle of the song features Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel showcasing their lyrical skills. The lines "Everybody got a breaking point kid, and they'll rat on you, the family n---as will rat on you" are a reminder of the harsh realities that many young people face, particularly those living in poverty or in danger of falling into a life of crime.
Overall, "Killing Me Softly" is a classic song that continues to resonate with listeners due to its raw emotion and timeless message about the power of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Strumming my pain with his fingers
He is evoking and channeling my pain through his guitar playing.
Singing my life with his words
His lyrics are so powerful and relatable they feel like they are telling my life story.
Killing me softly with his song
Although it hurts to listen, I can't help but be drawn in deeper and taken over by the emotions his music evokes.
Telling my whole life with his words
His lyrics are so poignant and visceral that they seem to reveal every detail of my life story.
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style
I've heard people talking about him before and thought it was just hype, but I can see now that his talent and style are the real deal.
And so I came to see him, and listen for a while
I had to come see him perform for myself and witness the magic I've heard so much about.
And there he was, this young boy, stranger to my eyes
He was so young and new to the scene that I didn't recognize him, but I was about to be blown away.
I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd
I was so overcome by emotion that I felt feverish and awkward being in the midst of so many people.
I felt he'd found my letters and read each one out loud
His lyrics seemed to hit so close to home that I felt as if he had read my private thoughts and was sharing them with the world.
I prayed that he would finish, but he just kept right on
I was so consumed by the emotions his music evoked that I almost couldn't handle it, but he kept going and it only intensified.
Yo, L-Boog, take me to the bridge
Addressing L-Boogie, the performer, asking to be taken to the bridge--a climactic section of the song.
Everybody got a breakin' point kid
Everyone has a limit and can only take so much.
And they'll rat on you
People will turn on you and betray you.
The family niggas will rat on you
Even people who are supposed to be close and loyal to you will betray you.
That's why we gotta be prepared to take whoever out we need to
To protect ourselves, we have to be willing to take out anyone who poses a threat or intends to do us harm.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@7clouds
Would you say you can sing well?
@jamesdorsett8465
Yes
@Lovescats-btw
PERTTY good
@jamesdorsett8465
I believe in myself
@bradmusicalbrad8354
Yes
@xAaronnn
Yes
@Dokja_5149
GETTING OUT OF THE BASEMENT WITH THIS BANGER🗣️‼️‼️
@hrww
HELP THIS MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD
@KiraRBLXYT
YOON BUM THIS U?
@peachy_cassy
HAHAHAHAHA