I heard he sang a good song,I heard he had a styleAnd so I came to see him,to listen for a whileAnd there he was, this young boy,a stranger to my eyesStrumming my pain with his fingersSinging my life with his wordsKilling me softly with his songKilling me softly with his songTelling my whole life with his wordsKilling me softly with his songI felt all flushed with fever,embarassed by the crowdI felt he’d found my letters and read each one out loudI prayed that he would finish,but he just kept right onStrumming my pain with his fingers
— Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack —
Kurt in Boston says
I remember where I was when I first heard that song (Hawaii, oddly enough). Later, I was so impressed when I discovered she wrote it about Don McLean, as he has always been one of my singer/songwriter heroes.
I’m curious about the instrument. Bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. Not too common. Tacoma?