I heard she sang a good song

I heard she had a style

And so I came to see her

To listen for a while



And there she was this young girl

A stranger to my eyes



Strummin' my pain with her fingers

Singin' my life with her words

Killing me softly with her song

Killing me softly, with her song

Telling my whole life with her words

Killing me softly, with her song



I felt all flushed with fever

Embarrassed by the crowd

I felt she found my letters

And read each one aloud



I prayed that she would finish

But she just kept right on



Strummin' my pain with her fingers

Singin' my life with her words

Killing me softly with her song

Killing me softly, with her song

Telling my whole life with her words

Killing me softly, with her song



She sang as if she knew me

In all my dark despair

And then she looked right through me

As if I wasn't there



But she was there, this stranger

Singing clear and strong



Strummin' my pain with her fingers

Singin' my life with her words

Killing me softly with her song

Killing me softly, with her song

Telling my whole life with her words

Killing me softly, with her song



Killing me softly, with her song