This is not Heaven featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Uplifted recorded and produced by Bob Ross

One of my oldest friends, Kathy recently died and at her Service I had the privilege to read the following words from Chapter 14 of John’s Gospel:
Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me,
In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am,
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I had read those words before so felt fairly composed as I waited for my turn to read.
Just before that, however, some photos of Kathy’s life came up which were very moving but when they became accompanied by Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” it really got to me. I managed the reading, but with much more emotion in my voice that I intended or expected.
It dawned on me that this song must be up there with my all -time favourites with lyrics like this that are timeless:
And the first time, ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hands
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird

So, I did a little research and found that the song was written by Ewan McColl (yes the father of Kirsty of “The Pogues” and “The Fairytale of New York” fame) He wrote it for folk singer Peggy Seeger who he later married.
Here is the original, sang by Peggy which is so very, very different from the Roberta Flack version

Peggy Seeger – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1957) – YouTube
Here is the Roberta Flack version that was played at Kathy’s service

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2006 Remaster)

It is audio only and so here is this one with visuals which is sang slightly faster and which, for me is not so haunting and poignant,

Roberta Flack – First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 1972 – YouTube

And lastly 66 years on Peggy Seeger again but this time with more of a Roberta Flack feel– if you listen to no other listen to this one- Peggy was 87 years old when she sang this!

Peggy Seeger – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2023) – YouTube

Quote of the Week