Starting in 1972, she released a series of albums on Capitol. Her debut album included the first recording of "Killing Me Softly," composed by Gimbel and Fox based on a poem written by Lori about the impact a Don Maclean performance had on her. Though hers was the original, it is later versions of the song, first by Roberta Flack and then by The Fugees, that are better known.
A 2009 CD, "Gun Metal Sky" was a combination of self-penned compositions as well as four covers and a re-recording of her "Killing Me Softly". In 2016 she released the album Ready for the Storm.
Killing Me Softly
Lori Lieberman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eliminate sounds with our song,
Killing a sound boy with this sound,
Killing a sound boy with this sound,
Taking sound boys' lives with this dub,
Killing him softly with this sound.
Strumming my pain with his fingers,
Singing my life with his words,
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 and listen for a while.
And there he was this young bwoy, 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
Yo L-Boogie, take it to the bridge
(Bust it)
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 finger, yeah he was...
[Shoutouts and fade]
The lyrics of "Killing Me Softly" by Lori Lieberman tell two parallel stories that converge at the end. The first part is based on a reggae sound system culture, with lines like "Strumming dub plates with our fingers, eliminate sounds with our song, killing a sound boy with this sound." This describes a DJ using his musical skills to outdo and silence other DJs in a sound system clash. The repetition of the line "Killing a sound boy with this sound" reinforces the intense competition among DJs.
The second part of the song is about a woman who is at a concert watching a musician perform. She is moved by his music and feels like he is telling her life story through his lyrics. The artist is described as "strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words." The woman becomes overwhelmed and embarrassed by her emotional response to the performance, but the musician continues to sing and play, not realizing the impact he is having on her.
The bridge part of the song is a nod to the reggae roots mentioned earlier, as rapper Pras Michel sings, "Yo L-Boogie, take it to the bridge," with "L-Boogie" being a nickname for Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. Hill responds by continuing the song's earlier theme of the DJ, stating, "I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style, And so I came to see him and listen for a while."
Overall, the song's lyrics capture the power of music to evoke memories and emotions in people, whether it be in the context of a sound system clash or a live concert.
Line by Line Meaning
Strumming dub plates with our fingers,
Creating music by rhythmical tapping on records using our fingers
Eliminate sounds with our song,
Removing or overpowering other music with our own song
Killing a sound boy with this sound,
Defeating a musician or DJ in a musical showdown using our sound
Killing a sound boy with this sound,
Defeating a musician or DJ in a musical showdown using our sound
Taking sound boys' lives with this dub,
Defeating multiple musicians or DJs in a musical showdown using our sound
Killing him softly with this sound.
Defeating a musician or DJ in a musical showdown using our sound with subtlety and emotion
Strumming my pain with his fingers,
Playing music that represents my emotional distress using his fingers
Singing my life with his words,
Singing about my life experiences through his own interpretation
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Telling my whole life with his words,
Sharing my life story in a way that resonates with others through his lyrics
Killing me softly with his song.
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style,
Heard rumors about his musical talent and unique approach
And so I came to see him and listen for a while.
Went to his performance to hear his music and see him play
And there he was this young bwoy, stranger to my eyes,
Saw him for the first time, a young man unknown to me
Strumming my pain with his fingers,
Playing music that represents my emotional distress using his fingers
Singing my life with his words,
Singing about my life experiences through his own interpretation
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Telling my whole life with his words,
Sharing my life story in a way that resonates with others through his lyrics
Killing me softly with his song.
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
I felt all flushed with fever,
Becoming overwhelmed and feverish from the emotions that his music evokes
Embarrassed by the crowd,
Feeling ashamed due to feeling exposed by his music in front of others
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud.
Feeling as though he is exposing private parts of my life through his music
I prayed that he would finish,
Wishing that the performance and the emotional exposure it brings would end
But he just kept right on strumming my pain with his
Continuing to play music that touches upon and expresses my emotional trauma
Fingers, Singing my life with his words,
Using his music to convey the essence of my life story in a way that resonates with others
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Telling my whole life with his words,
Sharing my life story in a way that resonates with others through his lyrics
Killing me softly with his song.
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Yo L-Boogie, take it to the bridge
Addressing her DJ by his nickname and requesting that he take the music to a bridge or different section
Strumming my pain with his fingers,
Playing music that represents my emotional distress using his fingers
Singing my life with his words,
Singing about my life experiences through his own interpretation
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Killing me softly with his song,
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Telling my whole life with his words,
Sharing my life story in a way that resonates with others through his lyrics
Killing me softly with his song.
Touching my emotions deeply with his music
Strumming my pain with his finger, yeah he was...
Repeating the idea that he expresses her pain and trauma through his music, emphasizing the emotional impact it has had upon her
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marclewis150
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
Am7 D
G C
Am7 D
Em
Am7 D7
G B7
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
Em Am D7 G
Em Am D C
G C
Fmaj7#11 E
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
Am7 D
G C
Am7 D
Em
Am7 D7
G B7
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
Em Am D7 G
Em Am D C
G C
Fmaj7#11 E
He sang as if it he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there
But he was there, this stranger
Singing clear and strong
Am7 D
G C
Am7 D
Em
Am7 D7
G B7
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
Em Am D7 G
Em Am D C
G C
Fmaj7#11 E
@omiinahellcat
She’s the original version she wins no debate
@lindafoxwood78
I wish I could play any musical instrument! Musicians have always been people I admire! I have one song in the Library of Congress with a copywrite. I have to wait for ever get it for sales. The name is "Merry Little Christmas"; it is so beautiful. Thank you so much for enjoying my video.
@tomm1109
It isn't necessarily a competition. It's a form of respect to put your own spin on a song and give it a new life. Their is a time and a place for both versions. I prefer the upbeat Fugee's version, but that doesn't mean I can't respect the lyrics, melody and vocals of this verison.
@repeater08
If you know the orign of the song and why it was written and think about it when hearing the song, then the original version wins hands down. Each main version has it's place and they were popular for obvious reasons. But, this song hits differently when you know what it's about.
@DGot14U
Of course not. No one remakes bad songs.
@bushwacka5187
No debate.
@robertsaca3512
This original is better than all the future covers of it, can't believe it took me decades to hear the original.
@Debbiesdilemmas
This is just beautiful. I can’t believe this version wasn’t successful. The words are basically how we all connect with music. Our love of music comes from how the lyrics resonate within us. I had to come and hear the original and so happy that I did.🥰
@lindafoxwood78
Thanks for listening
@hardipsinghgura3728
Love this ...sooooo powerful