The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Written by Ewan MacColl.

Released on the 1972 album And I Love You So.

Available on CD digitally remastered on the album re-issue, and it had been on the collection Sassy Bassey.

The composer Ewan MacColl was a Scottish folk singer. I don't know if he has also performed this song, but there is a later recording with his wife performing the vocals (Peggy Seeger, half-sister of Pete Seeger).

Since 1966 the song had been released by several artists, for example two different recordings by Marianne Faithfull in 1966, and Bert Jansch also released the song 1966. Roberta Flack had her recording of the song on her first album "First Take" 1969. Her first two albums produced no hit singles, but 1972 Flack's recording was part of the soundtrack of Clint Eastwood's film "Play Misty for Me". The single now zoomed to number one and remained there for six weeks, becoming that year's biggest hit.


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 empty skies
My Love
To the dark
And the endless skies

The first time
Ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth
Move in my hands
Like the trembling heart
Of a captive bird
That was there
At my command
My Love
That was there
At my command

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
And would last Till the end of time

The first time Ever I saw
Your face
Your face
Your face
Your face

(Transcribed by Roman)