About the song
“Killing Me Softly with His Song” is a deeply evocative track originally composed by Charles Fox, with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The song’s creation is marked by its connection to Lori Lieberman, who co-wrote the lyrics after being profoundly moved by a performance by Don McLean in 1971. Despite Lieberman’s crucial role in inspiring the song, she was not credited as a songwriter and her own 1972 version of the track failed to make an impact on the charts.
The song first gained major recognition when Roberta Flack recorded it in 1973. Flack’s rendition transformed “Killing Me Softly with His Song” into a massive hit, topping the charts in the United States, Australia, and Canada, and achieving a respectable number six position on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s success was bolstered by its smooth R&B and soul jazz arrangement, which showcased Flack’s rich vocals and innovative approach. This version of the song earned Flack two Grammy Awards in 1974, including Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
The song’s legacy was further cemented when the Fugees covered it in 1996, with Lauryn Hill delivering a fresh interpretation that combined hip-hop with soulful melodies. Their version of the song became a global hit, reaching number one in twenty countries, including Germany, where it made history as the first single to debut at the top of the charts. The Fugees’ rendition won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and the song’s popularity led to a remix of Flack’s version by Jonathan Peters, which also topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Both the Fugees’ and Flack’s versions of “Killing Me Softly with His Song” have been celebrated in popular culture and continue to be recognized in critical assessments of the greatest songs of all time. In 2021, both versions were included on Rolling Stone’s revised list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, underscoring their enduring impact. Billboard noted that “Killing Me Softly with His Song” is one of the few songs to have multiple versions reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s origins have been subject to dispute, particularly regarding Lieberman’s contribution. Despite the controversies surrounding songwriting credits and inspiration, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” remains a powerful testament to the art of emotional storytelling through music. Its success across different decades and interpretations highlights its universal appeal and the profound connection it establishes with listeners.
Video
Lyrics
… 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
… Woho, la la la la la la, woho, laha, 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