The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Roberta Flack
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The first time ever I saw your face I thought the sun rose in your eyes And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave To the dark and the endless skies my love To the dark and the endless skies The first time ever I kissed your mouth I felt the earth move in my hand Like the trembling heart of a captive bird That was there at my command my love That was there at my command my love And the first time ever I lay with you I felt your heart so close to mine And I knew our joy would fill the earth And last 'till the end of time my love And it would last 'till the end of time The first time ever I saw your face Your face, your face
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11 facts about this song
Song Origin"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger. It is said he wrote it for her to sing when the two were in a long-distance relationship during the late 1950s.
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Love TributeThe song was reportedly written as a gesture of love by MacColl for Seeger, who later became his third wife. This makes it a very personal and intimate piece of music history.
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VariationsOver the years, the song has been covered by various artists across many musical genres but the versions by Ewan MacColl and Roberta Flack are the most popular.
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Roberta Flack's RenditionAmerican singer Roberta Flack's rendition of the song is one of the most famous versions. She reportedly slowed down the tempo of the song, which highlighted its romantic melody and made it a success.
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Hit In The U.SFlack's version of the song became a significant hit in the United States, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1972.
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Grammy AwardsThe song earned Roberta Flack two Grammy Awards in 1973 for Record of the Year and Song of the Year making it one of the most decorated versions of the song.
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Movies and TelevisionThe song has had quite a cinematic history. It was featured in Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut film, “Play Misty for Me” in 1971. This film exposure played a role in its rise in the charts.
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Pop Culture ImpactDue to its popularity, the song has been covered by many famous musicians including Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, Leona Lewis, and Maroon 5's Adam Levine.
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MacColl on Flack's VersionDespite the success of Roberta Flack's version of the song, Ewan MacColl is reported to have disliked the rendition, considering it to be in a style too far removed from folk origins of the song.
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Song DurationThe original version of the song performed by Peggy Seeger lasts about two and a half minutes, while Roberta Flack's version is more than double that at almost five minutes long. This extension further lends itself to the lush and languid emotion evoked by the song.
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Global ImpactThe BBC named "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," in 2003, as Britain's third best song of the 20th century, showcasing its global appeal and timeless impact.
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Citation
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"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14814813/Roberta+Flack/The+First+Time+Ever+I+Saw+Your+Face>.
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