Peggy Seeger - First time ever I saw your face

[lisadotdash]

It's hard to imagine this song being sung over Clint Eastwood and the female actress in "Play Misty for Me." But it is an interesting first version. She sounds like a nun singing to Jesus, really. Her voice is absolutely breathtaking and the feeling is there, but I just think Roberta took it and owns it now.

[nasugbubatangas]

There are three versions of this song that I like... (In order)

1. Roberta Flack

2. Leona Lewis

3. Celine Dion

But this one is beautiful too. It gives me a feeling like I´m in a farm, and the person whom I love the most sing to me. Very rustic. Actually, very Celtic...

[erinpilla]

To be honest I prefer this version than Roberta Flack's version. Yes Roberta's version is like jazzy, smooth and vocally gymnastic but what I liked about this version is that it's really candid and more romantic in a juvenile way. Flack I think gave the song a mature voice. Both versions are superb so no losers here :D

[arthurcat2]

Breathtaking

[19pointer19]

first recording by The Kingston Trio on the LP New Frontier november 1962, but Song of the year 1972 by Roberta Flack (see the movie "play Misty for me" Clint Eastwood 1971)

[afamreport]

Roberta Flack's is the ultimate version of this song...

[RaisingWar]

Roberta flacks version...more soft...more romantic...robertas version in the last paragraph the first time i lay with you...not the first time i held you i could feel your heart beat...whats more sexier than hearing two hearts beating together while laying with each other...ill take roberta flack's version every day and all day long...over all others...

[Horsemarine100]

This moved me to tears. This, the ultimate love song sung by the woman to whom it was written. For sheer technical brilliance, I don't think anyone has yet beaten the Nana Mouskouri version but for its emotional effect, this bears the bell away.

[Granddaddify]

Roberta Flack's version is undeniably beautiful, but it lacks the edge and meaniing which i feel ewen mcColl wanted when he wrote it.

[RespectFlorida]

I think this is an absolutely beautiful performance, sung with such sincerity and tenderness.

[creativeimagepr]

OMG who let this woman record??? she is worse than susan boyle and God knows she is horrible!!!

[PaulaJonesIII]

@creativeimagepr Can you do better and post it for us to see?

[SweetDiversions]

@creativeimagepr - you idiot, this is the woman the song was written for and about, her version is the one we should honor the most, you're clueless

[erinpilla]

@creativeimagepr Who are you to say that God knows she's horrible?

[Romeoalex1000]

god dammit tht's horrible noisy voice i feel like scratching my butt lol 

[SweetDiversions]

@Romeoalex1000 you're comment is worthless, and I'll assume, from your attitude, so are you

[hawthorn59]

Cant understand how anyone could hate Peggy's version. Its not a competition between her and Roberta Flack. Both are stunning versions. Peggy's has an earthiness and raw edge to it that grips you as much as Robertas spiritual version.

[Boston2London]

I was lucky enough to see Ewan and Peggy perform in the Boston area in the 80's. It was always very moving to hear them perform this. He was a true poet.

Who are the poets that people admire today?

[finbarmaginn]

its odd to see a picture of Ewan macColl that my dad took come up at the end

[LilacVine]

Thanks so much for adding my video response - Dave Burland's interpretation of 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. It's good to be able to hear all these different versions of a song that has touched many hearts, but Peggy Seeger's rendition will always be the most heartfelt and touching as the song was composed for and about her.

[rdvqc]

The earliest version I remember of this song was by Catherine McKinnon on her album "Voice of an Angel" recorded back in the 60's on ARC (you would have to be Canadian to know that one). There are fine versions by both The Brothers Four (New World Record) and The Kingston Trio (Tom Dooley and Other Folksong Hits) not long after. Even Gordon Lightfoot covered it (Lightfoot!). Many others followed but all the early versions were in the folk tradition.

[amaxx1]

I'd never heard it sung in a folk style before, it is valid and the treatment is in adherence to how the song is asking to be treated, believe or not there are many similarities between the Seeger and the Flack versions, the singing styles are obviously different, b oth treatments are coming from singers that bring there life experiences to the song

[brownkevi]

i didn't know Ewan had written this for Peggy - but now I know ... how is it that some people can become so famous form this song

[Babyhowdy233]

@brownkevi

So many stunning songs writtten by men for the woman they love. It breaks my heart that the opposite isn't the case in music.

[brownkevi]

i didn't know Ewan had written this for Peggy - but now I know ... how is it that somerpeople can become so famous form this song

[bimbshine]

at least I know the original now! I love Roberta's version though! Such beauty!

[hyhne]

Even better than her album version

[amychubby]

very beautiful

[likemelikeyou]

Now this is what I was looking for. The Roberta Flack cover version just doesn't appeal to me at all. This is more like Joni Mitchell or someone... Much more meaningful. You can hear the unusual intervals far more clearly and really appreciate the writing. More people should know about this. Thanks a lot for posting.

[Babyhowdy233]

@likemelikeyou

I've heard Joan Baez sing this and she interpretes MacColl's unusual chord changes at least as good if not better than Peggy, in a voice that-unlike Peggy's-hits true, clear, sweet notes. Actually, most folks familiar with versions other than Flack's have already heard MacColl's original vision of how this was to be performed. Flack's version remains the truly unique one. She gave it an almost spiritual, unearthly power.

[11nytram11]

@Babyhowdy233 But MacColl hated Flack's version and every other version but the original, called them bludgeoning, histrionic and lacking in grace. Matter of taste really. Maybe as the man who wrote it he had some kind of idea what it should sound like and nobody lived up to it, or maybe he just hated the song and regretted ever writing it in the first place.

[jondoe8889]

haha - re the debate about who the song was written for, and when...

Maybe there should be a song - 'the unfaithful folksinger'.

Nah - I guess that title would be too unbelievable...

[Pook365]

I'd always assumed the Roberta Flack version was the original, having mostly only heard it her way before i find this almost impossible to listen to.

I suspect that is a good example of you experiences colouring your perceptions.

[Babyhowdy233]

@Pook365

No, that is a good example of your ear being able to identify and prefer a GOOD singer (Flack) over a lousy  one Seeger). Nothing wrong with your perceptions, they are working fine. ;)

[Pook365]

@Babyhowdy233

HaHa :)

[memmnock]

Gon yersel darling :) A nice version for that era :)

[elvisuk]

i just read an interview with peggy in an elvis mag.this song was written about peggy.she didnt realy like the elvis version of this song.

[oueeza1]

I learnt it when I was singing folk about 40 years ago... it doesn't need overworking, it's so pure.

Apparently Ewan wrote it about Peggy, but also for her to sing. That's what she said in a radio interview.

[lethe51]

words like beautiful, moving and brilliant come to mind

[MrGondolier]

It is actually reputed that this song was in fact written for Joan Littlewood who, 'allegedly' Ewan McColl was having an affair with prior to marrying her.

[padraigpurseal]

@MrGondolier

Never heard of that and I've been listening to to this song for neigh on 45 years saw them sing it together at least a dozen times never with a touch embarassment only Peggy Seerger explaning why the tunes differ.

I presume that's Joan the director you are talking about I suppose they were around the same time but sorrry can't buy it.

One way or the other it is one hell of a song

[ashkenaz]

Neither chronology nor the principals' reports sustain this claim. McColl and Littlewood  had divorced before his '49 marriage to Jean Newlove. Nor is there evidence of the song before his '56 meeting with Peggy.

[KTL1981]

@MrGondolier Joan Littlewood was his first wife. They broke up and he married another woman called Jean Newlove who is the mother of his 2 children. Whilst still married to Jean he started an affair with Peggy. Peggy asked him to write a song for a play she was working on which is how First time ever I saw your face came to be.

[jkdarrow]

Rest easy, MacColl.

[thegorn68]

The Flack version is the definitive one for me because I was born in '68 and grew up with that one. It is so cool to hear the original version of how it was written to be sung. If I recall, Ewan also wrote Dirty Old Town which has also been recorded by a plethora of artisits, the most famous perhaps being The Pogues' version.

[banjostead]

@thegorn68

Yes. And in my opinion the Pogues version of 'Dirty old Town' is the worst version. Of course I've not heard them all, but there can't be any worse versions surely?

[thegorn68]

@banjostead Oh, I LOVE it! Probably because that's the first I remember noticing that song. I like The Pogues however so I might be biased. I've heard several versions. The Chieftains and even Rod Stewart from his early days. LOL!

[moominpic]

@banjostead MacColl said he actually started to like the Pogues version of DOT

[thegorn68]

@banjostead Well, there's a Rod Stewart version on a CD I have so that one may top even the Pogues version you don't like. LOL!

[iphonerose]

@banjostead the dubliners version is the best!

[hektorpike]

@banjostead The Gene version is one of my favs. Well worth checking out!

[unclebobunclebob]

@banjostead I couldn't disagree more. They capture the roughness as described in the lyric almost perfectly.

[KennBurch]

@banjostead You do realize that Rod Stewart also had a go at "Dirty Old Town".  And we all know what Rod does to other people's songs.

[massdrewski]

@thegorn68

I went to a small farmers market where there was a band playing. this old old man(80-90's got up and starting singing this song to his wife in her wheelchair. now that is the definitive one.

[thegorn68]

@massdrewski Wonderful!

[thegorn68]

@massdrewski Not a dry eye in the house I'll bet.

[taddyd1]

@thegorn68

Mary Travers' version was the first popular release of this song; it was on PP&M's 5th lp "See What Tomorrow Brings" from 1965.

[Babyhowdy233]

@thegorn68

I know this stunning song was written for Peggy but I simply cannot stand her version!

I agree, Roberta Flack's version is the definitive one, so very beautiful and powerful.

[thegorn68]

@Babyhowdy233 There's a version from Peter, Paul and Mary on YouTube you might check out. Not bad.

[irishman7scouse]

not many people know his name  what a writter

[Babyhowdy233]

@irishman7scouse

You may not like his politics but MacColl was a damn genius!

He wrote a plethora of plays the likes of which even George Bernard Shaw was envious, and his songs are simply incredible, truly unforgettable!

[MrBField]

bee jeeesus this is beautiful.

[wbr1122]

great voice keep it up nice playing with the right hand .

[lloujohnson]

i never knew that this was a folk song.. Me and my sister would listen to to this endlessly. She'd be surprised to hear this version if she were alive today.. RIP sis.. I miss you so much.

[Chomuno]

Sorry. Really sorry.

[19pointer19]

@lloujohnson it was a original love song of Ewan McColl for his Wife Peggy Seeger 1957

[Chomuno]

Hurrah for Ewan the Great and Peggy the Awful Singer...

[girlswithguitars859]

actually maybe you may not be a player of music or a singer. What defines a beautiful meaning of song? Or the way someone sings it. What is a good singer to you my friend may not be considred good by someone else.

[Chomuno]

You're right. Just you're right. But Ewan MacColl and Peggy are better, I mean their personality, it makes me thinking their songs are better song.

[girlswithguitars859]

People want to see "American Idol" or "New Country" these people to me have no depth to there music. This is done very nicely by Peggy Seeger. It's a truly beautiful song, and listen to her musicanship. It irritates me when I hear people say that "other" people cannot sing. Music is a gift and this is where Peggy is giving that gift.

[strawberryseason]

@Chomuno  she is a good singer. I enjoy her singing.

[Chomuno]

@strawberryseason I agree with you. I didn't say anything in the opposite meaning!

[Babyhowdy233]

@Chomuno

I couldn't have said it better!

[girlswithguitars859]

This is totally awesome! never heard this sang by anyone but Roberta Flack.

[shakeypitt]

Apparently Ewan was mortified when he heard Flack's version; Peggy is singing it here just as he wrote it for her.

[shakeypitt]

Dunno.

[Chomuno]

I'm not surprised. Ewan was an artist, a real artist. I am ashamed when I hear Celine Dion, and thousands of other "singers" "singin'" it... It seems like they stole the Peggy Seeger's best song. He was an artist and a poet. I hope Marx is keeping his soul with his own.

[psirou]

Only two thousand something views?

The definitive youtube version of this song.

[ahawkr13]

Great song.

[dbisnl]

Fantastic! Thanks for posting, never saw Peggy perform this song live