Johnny Cash - The first time ever I saw your face

"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who was later to become his wife. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else.
The song entered the pop mainstream when it was released by Peter, Paul and Mary (Album: See What Tomorrow Brings, 1965), and was later recorded by Roberta Flack, in 1972. The Flack version was much slower than the original: an early solo recording by Seeger, for example, clocked in at two and a half minutes long, whereas Flack's is more than twice that length. It was subsequently covered by numerous other artists.
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" has been covered by numerous artists such as Joe and Eddie, Elvis Presley, George Michael, Marianne Faithfull, Kate Havnevik, the Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte, June Tabor, the Chad Mitchell Trio-Mike Kobluk solo, Gordon Lightfoot, Vern Gosdin, Shirley Bassey, Steven Houghton, Bert Jansch, Maria Taylor, The Easy Club, Peter, Paul and Mary, We Five, Johnny Cash, The Chi-Lites, José Carreras, Michael Sweet, Jeffrey Gaines, Isaac Hayes, Nana Mouskouri, Bradley Joseph, Joanna Law, Richard Marx, Alison Moyet, Stereophonics & Jools Holland, Mel Tormé, Vanessa L. Williams, Mathilde Santing, Cindytalk, Amanda Palmer, Conner Reeves, Christy Moore, Vikki Carr, Brian Kennedy, David Cook, Journey South, Bobby Vinton, Kate Ceberano, Lauryn Hill, Leona Lewis, Gregorian, Wayne Newton, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Temptations, The Smothers Brothers, Johnny Mathis, Paul Potts, Jeffrey Osborne, Andy Williams, Bob Monkhouse, Petula Clark, Harry Connick, Jr., Aaron Neville, Marcia Griffiths (member of the I-Threes), Emily Barker and Matt Cardle.

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  Music

[StellyBellie]

When Johnny Cash covers your song, it is no longer your song. 

[ilsam28]

this is the best youtube comment i ve ever read

[Jose Hidalgo]

ok



[dogwondertut]

The mark of a truly great song is that it remains dreat no matter who sings it in what style. They are all great.

[Tania lixandrou]

jhonny a legend.....

[Kayla Frasier]

Have some respect for The Man in Black.

RIP Johnny <3

[farkn0se]

not trying to get in a squabble about it, they are both great artists but it just comes down to vocal range. Cash doesnt have the range to do the song justice. if you've heard his version of NIne Inch Nails "Hurt" (his last recording) you would here him take a (vocally) mediocre song and turn it into an emotive and haunting ballad. With respect to you and JC he was never going to better Roberta's version. but music is subjective, depending on the listener, they can both be the best version ever

[triciakalman]

gotcha.  well in that case i wouldn't even compare the two as you mentioned. you can hear the pain in his voice however....it's a sweet song no matter who sings it. :)

[Dave Phillips]

Can not compare Flack to an aged and sick Cash ... His voice is not staged .. its his tribute to his life partner who had gone on not that long before