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The Journey to a Grammy: Roberta Flack’s Iconic “Killing Me Softly”

Introduction

Roberta Flack’s timeless ballad, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” is a masterpiece that has touched the hearts of music enthusiasts for decades. This iconic song, originally released in 1973, has a unique ability to captivate and mesmerize its listeners, and it continues to be celebrated as one of the most soulful and evocative tracks in the history of music.Roberta Flack Has A.L.S. and Can No Longer Sing, Her Publicist Says - The New York Times

Did You Know?

  • “Killing Me Softly With His Song” was originally written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, and it was first recorded by Lori Lieberman in 1971. Roberta Flack’s rendition of the song, however, became the most famous and enduring version.
  • Roberta Flack, the artist behind this enchanting song, is a multi-talented American singer, songwriter, and musician. She gained fame for her extraordinary vocal prowess and her unique ability to infuse emotion into her performances, making her one of the most revered artists in the music industry.
  • The song has won numerous accolades, including the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1974, further solidifying its place in musical history. It has been covered by many artists across different genres, a testament to its enduring popularity.

Roberta Flack biography and career timeline | American Masters | PBS

Video

Lyrics: 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

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

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

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On May 1, 1967, Elvis Presley was not standing on a concert stage. He was standing at the altar. Inside the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, the King of Rock and Roll waited quietly for the woman he loved. When Priscilla Beaulieu walked toward him in her white wedding dress, friends said Elvis could not take his eyes off her. In that moment, there was no superstar. There was only a man deeply in love.

There was something about Elvis Presley that the world had never seen before. Long before he sang a single note, people noticed him. His striking blue eyes, dark hair, and effortless confidence made him impossible to ignore. But those who met him often said his greatest attraction was not his appearance. It was the feeling he brought into every room.

Elvis Presley spent much of his life fighting battles the world could not see. Behind the sold out concerts and standing ovations was a man living with constant health problems. He struggled with chronic pain, severe digestive issues, migraines, glaucoma, and an inherited heart condition that gradually weakened his body. Yet no matter how difficult life became, he kept stepping onto the stage because he never wanted to disappoint his fans.

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