♥ “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (1972) ♫ Lori Lieberman
Link to improved audio:
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Originally in my channel (65Reasons) on August 22, 2008.
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Song: Killing Me Softly with His Song
Singer: Lori Lieberman
Album: Lori Lieberman (released 1972)
Composer: Charles Fox
Lyrics: Norman Gimbel
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♫ Killing Me Softly
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
(guitar adlib)
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 was there this stranger
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….
(then the final lonely finale orchestral plays on….)
.
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The lyrics of this song was based on a poem that Lori Lieberman wrote.
I first heard this song being played in a music store in Ginza in Tokyo in early February 1973.
The more popular Roberta Flack’s cover of this song was released at least year after this 1972 Lori Lieberman original.
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From Wikipedia:
Lori Lieberman is an American singer. She was born in California and grew up in Switzerland, and signed a deal with Capitol Records in the early 1970s. Her self-titled debut album featured the tune “Killing Me Softly with His Song”, said to have been written after seeing Don McLean in concert.
The tune was reworked by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, and would go on to be a chart-topping single for Roberta Flack a few years later. Lieberman released several albums on Capitol in the 1970s and also provided music for the Schoolhouse Rocks TV show in the late ’70s and early ’80s. In the 1980s Lieberman receded from the industry and had three children; in the mid-1990s she began recording again for independent labels.”
You may visit her official website:
http://www.lorilieberman.com
Lori Lieberman has a very lovely voice. She is an artist, who has contributed several beautiful music to the world.
This is THE version that I first heard in Tokyo in February 1973.
Just listening to the intro and the first minute of the song just blew me away!
I also like the Roberta Flack cover but this Lori Lieberman song is THE one that got me first.
This song has also been updated for the current decade of listeners by the Fugees (Lauryn Hill).
=
To all Lori Lieberman fans and to all who enjoy great music rendition:
Beautiful melody. Beautiful sentiment. Beautiful chords. Pure origin. Pure-heartedly sung. Pure truth finally set her free. "Then you'll rifle through her diary Write some words about her family Write a song about the times you made her cry Then you mix two parts absurdity With one part ambiguity Give her fountain pens for legal stuff to sign For a singer who won’t mind" Lori Lieberman should be legally credited as a songwriter for this song. Norman Gimbel's estate should clean up their own name even though he himself chose greed. He stained his legacy. They could do the right thing. Then his work would be more likely to be appreciated. But until that happens I hear his incredible work here under a cover of abuse and greed.
I never knew there was a version before Roberta Flack's and it's AMAZING. But neither artist wrote it, it was written and composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, based on Lieberman's personal notes/diary.
From A Song That Was Sung By Don McLean At A Concert Attended By Lori Lieberman…”Empty Chairs”…Which Lieberman Thought That McLean Was Singing Directly To Lieberman!!!
Just learned today the story of this song, and this is the first time I heard Lori's original. I still like the Roberta Flack version, because that's the one I heard first, but this is a pretty damn fine version too.
I actually had Perry Como album that it was on and shoot he sang it so perfectly. She sings it well and if she wrote it, congrats. It's genius lyrics kept me listening and Perry's soft voice. Gets right inside a person. Thx Lori!
This is the first time I've heard this original. I was born in '88 and was first introduced to the Fugee's version, which I always loved. I've heard several other covers/versions including Frank Sinatra's, and while other versions sounded great, the music always did sound a little borrowed. Hearing this now, the song makes sense.
This original verson has much more feeling. As much as I like Roberta Flacks technically flawless rendition this is so much nicer, voice of an angel. Why isn't this played on the radio?
Quelle sublime voix et quelle chanson reprise par tant de personnes Frank Sinatra , Roberta Flack etc… , et dernièrement les fugees ,c'est tout simplement merveilleux et relaxant…
Just listened to Casey Kasem American Top 40 for Feb. 25, 1973. Roberta Flack's version was no. 1, and Casey speculated that Lori's version didn't chart because it was hard for newcomer's to get radio airplay. As much as I like Roberta's version, I always prefer the original. I hope Lori at least reaped major royalties from it.
casey kasem brought me here. i had no idea that she's the real originator of this song. i always thought roberta flack wrote this beautiful song. this song came out the year i was born
Beautiful melody. Beautiful sentiment. Beautiful chords.
Pure origin. Pure-heartedly sung. Pure truth finally set her free.
"Then you'll rifle through her diary
Write some words about her family
Write a song about the times you made her cry
Then you mix two parts absurdity
With one part ambiguity
Give her fountain pens for legal stuff to sign
For a singer who won’t mind"
Lori Lieberman should be legally credited as a songwriter for this song.
Norman Gimbel's estate should clean up their own name even though he himself chose greed. He stained his legacy. They could do the right thing. Then his work would be more likely to be appreciated. But until that happens I hear his incredible work here under a cover of abuse and greed.
i dont know why i am just now decided to go back to the original…its a different affair her story her song
I never knew there was a version before Roberta Flack's and it's AMAZING. But neither artist wrote it, it was written and composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, based on Lieberman's personal notes/diary.
From A Song That Was Sung By Don McLean At A Concert Attended By Lori Lieberman…”Empty Chairs”…Which Lieberman Thought That McLean Was Singing Directly To Lieberman!!!
Just learned today the story of this song, and this is the first time I heard Lori's original. I still like the Roberta Flack version, because that's the one I heard first, but this is a pretty damn fine version too.
Big respect to Ms Lieberman.
OMG.I never knew.She is wonderful.!!
Dark & beautiful❤
I actually had Perry Como album that it was on and shoot he sang it so perfectly. She sings it well and if she wrote it, congrats. It's genius lyrics kept me listening and Perry's soft voice. Gets right inside a person. Thx Lori!
Always speak her name speak with respect so people don't forget she was the best
A original sempre será a melhor.
É muito fácil fazer sucesso com o "chapéu" dos outros , concordam?
This is the first time I've heard this original. I was born in '88 and was first introduced to the Fugee's version, which I always loved. I've heard several other covers/versions including Frank Sinatra's, and while other versions sounded great, the music always did sound a little borrowed. Hearing this now, the song makes sense.
何度聴いてもいいね~！個人的には倉木麻衣さんに歌ってもらいたい願望がありまして…。彼女に合ってる歌と思いますので。しかしながらオリジナルのロリリーバーマン素晴らしい！
This original verson has much more feeling. As much as I like Roberta Flacks technically flawless rendition this is so much nicer, voice of an angel. Why isn't this played on the radio?
I always thought Roberta Flack was the original
LORI she's The queen of THIS SONG WOW
Quelle sublime voix et quelle chanson reprise par tant de personnes Frank Sinatra , Roberta Flack etc… , et dernièrement les fugees ,c'est tout simplement merveilleux et relaxant…
This is fantastic.
Sad that other artists have capitalized on this original masterpiece
Me too! This is organic!
Lovely. Clear as clear as crystal where is a lot of the cover versions are too muddy!
初めて聞いたのは幼い頃NESCAFEのcmでした！
とても素敵な曲で心の琴線に触れます♪
この バージョンの伴奏は特に気にいっています！(*^^*)
"One time, one time."
Sounds like Melissa Manchester or Debbie Boone trying to be soulful. Not a fan.
There were 3 who did this song better than anyone else. 1 Lori Lieberman. 2. Roberta Flack 3. Karen Carpenter.
Holly Haines
Just listened to Casey Kasem American Top 40 for Feb. 25, 1973. Roberta Flack's version was no. 1, and Casey speculated that Lori's version didn't chart because it was hard for newcomer's to get radio airplay. As much as I like Roberta's version, I always prefer the original.
I hope Lori at least reaped major royalties from it.
apparently she wrote this after going to see Don McLean perform.
casey kasem brought me here. i had no idea that she's the real originator of this song. i always thought roberta flack wrote this beautiful song. this song came out the year i was born
Not me, no one sings it like Lori Lieberman. ♥️
One of my favourite songs ever. Iam 52yrs
The lyrics cut deep. So hearing the OG version makes the lyrics even more real
This is how the song was meant to be sung.
Lori Lieberman sings her hit Killing Me Softly for our residents in 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hUib2ZaK5U
This is the original…the best.
やっぱりオリジナル！ロバータ・フラックも勿論好きですが、こちらの方が気に入ってます！
This in one of just a few songs that I can remember when and where I first heard it. Silver Dollar Bar, Blowing Rock , NC. 1972.
This is her song and her vocals are on another level. No comparison!!
Never knew she wrote and sang this song. Love all three versions, including Roberta's and Lauryn's versions.
trop beau