The first time ever I kissed your mouth/
I felt the earth move in my hand/

“The First Time I Saw Your Face” has an amazing history. It was written in 1957 as a folk song. It sounded good, but very different from Roberta Flack’s version. It was not popular. In 1972 Flack covered the song, blew the song away and made this song a huge success. It is one of the best performances by a female vocalist of all-time.

The style of her vocal sounds undoubtedly hers, but she has more in common with female singers from the late 60s than with what was going on in the early 70s. Aspiring female singers study this vocal performance. Note her pace. It is slow, but due to her delivery we are awaiting to hear what she says next. She does one minor vocal run—even though we sense the power of her voice and her obvious ability to do more. And she minimizes vibrato; she uses it tastefully and sparely.

The production is interesting. The loudest instrument is the bass, but overall, most of the instruments are quiet. This puts a lot of emphasis on Flack’s voice. This is the right choice when you have that voice! The use of piano and strings are very well done.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Lyrics

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.

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.

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.

The first time ever I saw your face
Your face, your face

written by Ewan Mccoll