The R&B professional singer-songwriter, Ms Roberta Flack, best known for the hits “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, passed away peacefully at her home this morning, February 24th 2025, surrounded by her loving family, while in her 89th year.
Ms Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) had previously announced in 2022 that she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease), and could no longer continue to sing.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, USA, the musician started out as a classical pianist. She gained a full school scholarship to Howard University when aged just 15 years old; thus making her one of the youngest students ever to enrol there. Her classical training led her into teaching piano, but at night she’d accompany opera singers on piano, while singing pop standards during the breaks. Her Atlantic recordings did not sell particularly well, until actor/director Clint Eastwood chose a song from her first album “First Take”, using the lyrics written by Ewan MacColl, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” for the sound track of his directorial debut “Play Misty for Me”. The song became the biggest hit of the year for 1972, spending six consecutive weeks at No. 1 and earning Ms Flack a million-selling Gold disc.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
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. And 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 it would fill the earth, And last ’til the end of time, my love, And it would last ’til the end of time, The first time ever I saw your face. Your face, your face, your face.
END
In 1966, Ms Flack married jazz musician Steve Novosel. The couple divorced in 1972. They had no children. In 2010, she established “The Roberta Flack Foundation”, which promoted animal welfare and music education. Ms Flack would go on to became the first artist ever to win a Grammy Award for ‘Record of the Year’ in two consecutive years; 1973 and 1974. In 2020 Ms Flack won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms Flack was predeceased in 2022, by her godson and former music director, funk and jazz keyboardist Bernard Wright, latter who died in an accident.
Rest in Perfect peace, Ms Flack, your legacy will live long. In ár gcroíthe go deo.
The song hereunder is dedicated to all of ye who are missing a loved one.
Vocals: Meelin, Co. Cork born female folk singer and musician Meadhbh Walsh.
One Of A Kind.
I miss the way you talk, I can still see the way that you walk. The pull on the strings in my heart are never to go. Your the dream that wanders my nights, Your the one who always was right, And the one thing I’ll think of tonight, is why did you go. And the feeling of loving you, feeling of hugging you, Pulling you closer and closer again. The days passing by bring me constant remind, I miss you, you were one of a kind. All the days and nights that we spent, Travelling ’round to the places we went, Telling jokes, making rhymes, singing songs, just between you and I, And the way you spoke about life, While I listened to your words in delight. Thinking ’bout all the things that you did, makes me wonder today, Of the feeling of loving you, feeling of hugging you, Pulling you closer and closer again. The days passing by bring me constant remind, I miss you, you were one of a kind. So now I’ll leave it at this, And I’ll sing this song when I’ll miss, The times you smiled, the remarks you made, The poems you told me, the music we made. If I go, I will bring you along, And will you add the chords to my song. Be watching above everyday, Keep the bonfire burning, With the feeling of loving you, Feeling of hugging you, Pulling you closer and closer again. The days passing by bring me constant remind, I miss you, you were one of a kind. The feeling of loving you, Feeling of hugging you, Pulling you closer and closer again. You’ve taken our memories up to the sky, Just remember darling, you were one of a kind.
Lyrics: Dublin born Irish folk singer/songwriter the late Pete St John(Peter Mooney 1932 – 2022). Vocals: Irish based singer-songwriter Sina Theil.
Fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling, “Michael, they have taken you away. For you stole Trevelyan’s corn, So the young might see the morn, Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay”. Low lie the fields of Athenry, Where once we watched the small free birds fly. Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing, It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry. By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling, “Nothing matters, Mary, when you’re free. Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they cut me down, Now you must raise our child with dignity”. Low lie the fields of Athenry, Where once we watched the small free birds fly. Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing, It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry. By a lonely harbour wall, She watched the last star falling, As the prison ship sailed out against the sky. For she lived in hope and pray, For her love in Botany Bay, It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry. Low lie the fields of Athenry, Where once we watched the small free birds fly. Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing, It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry. Low lie the fields of Athenry, Where once we watched the small free birds fly. Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing, It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry. It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry.
Lyrics: British songwriter and co-writer of seven of Westlife’s number one singles, Wayne Anthony Hector and English songwriter, record producer and Ivor Novello Award winner Stephen Paul Robson. Vocals: British tenor Russell Watson.
Someone To Remember Me.
I hope you see as you look down, All of this love gathered around, I hope you hear what people say, I hope you know the role you play. You were my rock, you were my shield, This space you leave, no one can fill, You held the room, you cast a spell, You’ll always be remembered well. And when my days have come and gone, I hope I leave more right than wrong. I want to feel this love I see, When I am gone, I hope there’ll be someone to remember me. Though you’re not here, not here with me, A part of you will always be. I’ll hear your laughter, I’ll see the smile, I’ll feel you near once in a while. And when my days have come and gone, I hope I leave more right than wrong, I want to feel this love I see, When I am gone, I hope there’ll be someone to remember me. And when the days have come and gone, I hope I’ll leave more right than wrong. I want to feel this love I see, When I am gone, I hope there’ll be someone to remember, Someone to remember me. Someone to remember me.
Lyrics: Canadian and American singer, songwriter, musician, film director, and screenwriter Neil Percival YoungOC. OM. Vocals:Neil Young.
Harvest Moon.
Come a little bit closer, Hear what I have to say. Just like children sleeping, We could dream this night away. But there’s a full moon rising, Let’s go dancing in the light, We know where the music’s playing, Let’s go out and feel the night. Because I’m still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, Because I’m still in love with you, On this harvest moon. When we were strangers, I watched you from afar. When we were lovers, I loved you with all my heart, But now it’s getting late, And the moon is climbing high. I want to celebrate, See it shining in your eye, Because I’m still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, Because I’m still in love with you, On this harvest moon. Because I’m still in love with you, I want to see you dance again, Because I’m still in love with you, On this harvest moon.
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