About the song
"Peter, Paul & Mary – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a timeless song that showcases the trio’s signature folk harmonies. Peter, Paul & Mary, known for their contributions to the American folk music revival of the 1960s, bring an emotional depth and gentle interpretation to this popular piece. Originally written in 1957 by Scottish folk artist Ewan MacColl, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is a deeply moving love song that has continued to resonate across generations.
While many audiences associate the song with Roberta Flack’s iconic version, which earned her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1973 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for six weeks, Peter, Paul & Mary’s rendition offers a softer, more acoustic feel. Their version emphasizes the beauty of vocal harmonies, blending perfectly with the poetic lyrics that describe the awe of experiencing deep love for the first time.
Peter, Paul & Mary included “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in one of their albums as a nod to their love for heartfelt storytelling and folk traditions. Although their version was not as commercially acclaimed as Roberta Flack’s, it has its own charm for fans of traditional folk music. It highlights the trio’s dedication to meaningful, lyrical content, and their sensitivity to conveying emotional narratives.
The song has continued to be covered throughout musical history, and its timeless nature solidifies its place as one of the most beloved love songs ever written. For fans of soft, acoustic folk interpretations, Peter, Paul & Mary deliver a memorable and evocative adaptation of this celebrated song.
(Note: Peter, Paul & Mary did not notably chart their version of this song, and Grammy Awards were not associated with their rendition of it. Roberta Flack’s version remains the most well-known charting of the song, while Peter, Paul & Mary’s covers are known for their emotional simplicity.)
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