I saw McLean perform twice in small venues in the 80s. He was my dream guy, an unattainable poetic god. I wore out several copies of his albums. Nowadays, my eyes are less starry, but I still adore his music. A few broken hearts and a few decades of experiences later, his poetry is even more amazing to me. :-)

A singer songwriter named Lori Lieberman heard Don McLean sing Empty Chairs live at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in late 1971, and she was so moved and affected by his performance that she wrote and performed the song "Killing Me Softly With His Song" about her experience. It was covered shortly thereafter by Roberta Flack, and went on to much acclaim. But it all started with Don McLean singing about being heartbroken.

Don McLean is seriously under rated and one of the best song writers that has ever lived.

It still brings tears to my eyes when I listen to this song. Takes me back to the night my husband died in my arms. He had fought such a long hard battle, he had to go but it was just so hard to believe when he finally did. Don Mclean's words and his voice brings comfort to me, thank you for the video.

Even without experience of this situation, this song tells you all, and rips your heart out whilst doing so. Stunning.

Over the years, there have been so many songs that tell of failed relationships. None of them convey the pain and anguish as sincerely as this one. For those of you who've never experienced the tragedy of lost love, the words sung here perfectly describe the overwhelming sadness and heartache that consume the one who remains. You can't help but cry.

My mum died last month, she'd requested this song at the service ... It was a beautiful moment but it broke my heart. Rest in peace Mummy xxxx

Poetry. Notice the use of alliteration...trembling tingle, beams of blue, fragrance of your flower. Also repetitive words - empty rooms and empty clothes and empty chairs. And the phrasing is sublime "a sympathy bouquet left for the love that's dead" and this, almost perfect stanza: "Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case " This is poetry worth of the Great Romantic poets - byron, keats and shelley.

This song makes me cry. It is one of those beautiful songs that seems to effortlessly draw feelings and emotions of the deepest sort. Everyone knows loss at some time in their lives and this song successfully captures that feeling. And even if you haven't experienced loss this song tells you how it feels.

"Empty Chairs" I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright Beams of blue come flickering through my windowpane Like Gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did, I never thought you would Moonlight use to bath the contours of your face Chestnut hair fell all around the pillowcase And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head A sympathy bouquet left with a love that's dead And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did, I never thought you would Never thought the words you said were true Never thought you said just what you meant Never knew how much I needed you Never thought you'd leave, until you went Morning comes and morning goes with no regret And evening brings the memories I can't forget Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did, I never thought you would

Tonight was the first time I've listened to this song in 26 years...I now well recall how it cracked my heart wide open...we all did the best we could...I miss you all, but somehow know it's okay...love continues...

This guy has written many many great songs and three stone cold classics. American Pie. Vincent. And I Love you So.

THIS MAN IS SO UNDERRATED!! AMAZING VOICE AND WRITER

McLean could always make that guitar sing, make his voice touch you in the most intimate places, make those lyrics pierce you in your most painful moments. Such a great and underappreciated artist.

A true master of the musical word. His song really touch you deep inside.

Without a doubt, some of the best lyrics ever written... The man is in a category of his own when it comes to painting a picture with words!!

My goodness...could this song be any more beautiful? Pure poetry. Thank you for one of my all time favorites.

This man has great talent, my deep respect for him.

Lost the love of my life & still mourning her 14 YRS. later... I don't think she ever knew how much she meant to me & how much I loved her... hope you are well wherever you are...

Don was always a master with lyrics, that painted pictures in your mind as he sang them, he was also a master of playing guitar slightly behind the melody, so it always stood out, but very gracefully. A true master at his craft.

There were some who could write beautifully about emotions and then there was this guy . He painted our lives with his songs , when real caring and understanding meant something .

wow, while listening to this song I was in tears. the love of my life for 30 years died in 2020 of end stage COPD. even though it has been 2 years, my heart is still broken. this song really covers every emotion I feel when the house seems so empty at night and I am sitting here alone and think of him. 😭

Sad, remains me when my first wife left back in 1975, wow must be PTSD, a thought I was over that episode!

Don McLean the greatest poet songwriter I've ever known I've appreciated him 5 decades

🥺🥹😭😭😭 why oh why, how can music this good, this beautiful still touch my heart in a deep way, especially in 2023! This song was produced in 1971. I was born in 1983, and while finding this treasure going through oldies, I found myself at a loss for words. Empty chairs....is now connected to a memory. Music truly does transcends time! ❤️🫂

What a righteously bittersweet lament! Makes my heart ache for lost love, and pine for a time when I thought anything was possible...

This is my favourite Don McLean song, I feel he is so under-rated, he's on par with Bob Dylan.

According to Lori Lieberman, the artist who performed the original recording, "Killing me Softly" in 1972, the song was born of a poem she wrote after experiencing a strong reaction to the song Empty Chairs, written, composed, and recorded by Don McLean.[3] She then related this information to Gimbel, who took her feelings and put them into words. Then, Gimbel passed the words on to Fox, who set them to music. (source, Wikipedia)

I had the good fortune of seeing Don McLean live a few years ago. Though I'd always enjoyed his music, I'd never heard this song til that live concert. From the 1st note of this I literally just sat there with my mouth hanging open-I was just knocked out by it. What an amazing talent.

My son was unique and special. Special in a way no one could understand. He had the most striking blue eyes and long blond curly hair. He was an old soul but still like a child. I lost him when he was 33 years old. He knew before I did. My life was never the same.

I like his voice and the calmness of this song.

This song was the inspiration for Lori Lieberman to write the evergreen song "killing me softly" back 1972.

Listening to this it is easy to understand how ’killing me softly’ was inspired.

I was listening to this song a lot 3 weeks before my wife came back from her homecounrty and decided we should split...this refrain hits me hard for how accurate it resonates inside me. Life is crazy...

I didn't believe him, but he did die and left me with all those beautiful memories of our 52 years together.

saddest song i've heard. never thought i'd lose my mom. not a day goes by that i dont miss her. wish i would have taken more time to know and understand her.

I know the feeling, growing old is not what its cracked up to be, however, Despite failing eyesight and bones that are begining to let me down, i still get huge amount of pleasure from listening to artist like Don,and still can almost play myself to sleep at the keyboard, i have have the pleaure of seeing the effects on people when playing and singing, and have to say that i think its a more adictive past time than any drug, once you have been there you never want to leave, and its not the money that keeps you going back for more, there is a lot said in this song, clearly a reflection of the mans life and his ability, it seems everyone in the music game has found to a greater or lesser degree, the song or the melody that nobody forgets. This is one of those songs,, beutiful, could listen to this all day!!!!

Poetry in music. One of the greatest legacies of the 70's, bearing witness to the many changes unfolding, shaping up a musical culture serving as backdrop to the rude awakening of our generation, sharing experiences both unique and collective, giving us a sense of belonging, no matter what fate awaits our kind in the years to come. Troubled times and all, the song remains the same.

'Killing Me Softly' is one of the best songs of all time, and this is the inspiration for that song. Most people know that, but in case some people don't know, I hope to enlighten them

Empty chairs When I get on the Kop and look around at the empty chairs chairs where family and friends use to sit now occupied by others, I realise that just how much I miss them, especially you dear Brother Robert

this song and Vincent always make me cry for some reason

apparently the inspiration for the song killing me softly with his song "strumming my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his song ..."

I love finding new gems of songs.

Few commercial songs reach the rarified atmosphere of poetry. The opening line of this song is a piece of poetic beauty. We are immediately inside the poets skin: his feelings are ours. And the images used in the remainder of the song/poem really are exquisite.

Oh my goodness of all God whatever we can call god..... this is the first time I have heard this song. One more time I fell in love again with Don Maclean's beautiful gift(s)

"Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face, while chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case." Damn.

Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face, While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case. Poetry. Beautiful.

He was my favourite artist in the 1970's and still is today. Simply wonderful music and touching lyrics. Thanks for posting.

Don mclean, has been one of my favorite artists, from american pie too vincent. Empty chairs is a classic I have never known.

Just beautiful! There is not a one ‘bad’ song on this album!

When I listen to this song, I just close my eyes and I am back to my happy carefree younger days, my first love. Oh my heart aches for those days I experienced.

I like how the song is played in a similar way to Vincent (Starry Starry Night.).

"Never knew how much I needed you, never thought you'd leave, until you went." Wish me luck tmmr I tell her.

Sad songs are more authentic in my mind because life has more sadness and sorrow in it.The happy moments are brief but the pain never goes away. You can try to cover it up but it's always there.

Fantastic to know that listening to this song inspired the writing of the song Killing me softly with his song.

Wow! This makes me think that as I wait my true love is watching & waiting for the right time to come to me. Amazing.

Perfection... Don McLean is perfection.

My dad was a big Don McClean fan as a matter of fact thats how I first heard this song. It touches my heart in a very special way & is one of those rare special songs that can bring tears to my eyes

When I heard this for the first time in 2011 or so, it grew on me immediately. Sad, indeed...

Makes me think of my dad. He repeat the story to me over and over of when he got his heart broken and waited for her to come home. He knew exactly what she’d done. But he forgave her then I was born. Very bitter sweet moment of his life that I was created out of utter love and forgiveness of a mistake xx god bless him ❤️

Old is gold 🥺 adore it madly 🇱🇰

This to me is probably the greatest love song ever put on paper don has a way with words he's s born genius well that's my opinion anyeay

This song caused one of the most beautiful song to be written, Killing me softly.

Empty chairs round the table, for those we can't forget, a place for memories

Far out! I haven't heard this one in years and years! Oh my good...so beautiful.... Thankyou so much folkman123!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't help but wonder what is going on in the minds of a lot of songwriters. so many songs just reach out and grab you and say exactly what y [u need to hesr

still bring tears to my eyes in 2020

For anyone who has ever loved and lost, this song will go straight through the heart like an arrow. Haunting, sad, and so beautiful.

Great song off a brilliant album. Sends shivers up my spine.

"This song seeps into my spirit like an autumn sunset thru a stained glass window." Send that line to McLean!!! Beautiful!

only don mclean among a few can go into the depths of the soul an bring a beatufull poem or a meaninfull and beutifull thought

Don, you kill me softly with this song...and Winter Has Me in its Grip...and Crossroads...and Oh My What a Shame...and so many others.

Brilliant - a great song off a truly great album. "I miss you", yeah BUT it's about someone regretting forsaking love, taking their love one for granted until they left and only then realising what a huge mistake they made.

can someone out there in this crazy mad world give me a song that can beat this for words like don mclean says morning comes and morning goes with no regret but evening brings the memories i cant forget. a gem the man should get a oscar for this song come on ye public give me a better song

One of the greatest singer songwriters ever.wrote so many great tunes that are a joy to listen to.

I've had a life-long love of this man and his music. This one is so poignant , full of love it has brought many tears to many eyes. Love you still Don. Rest in Peace with God.

I saw Don in concert last night and he was brilliant, He gave his all and came across as a lovely genuine person. He kept saying how he much he appreciates his fans and this is so refreshing. This song was the highlight of the night for me. One of many beautiful songs by a beautiful soul. Thanks for a fantastic evening Don and thanks for sharing your love and your music.

Beautiful song, for those we never ever forget.

Another great Don McLean song.

This must be one of the saddest, most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I was blind emotionally, to the fact that, (3 years), ago my sister was dying... tho I understood it intellectually. When she passed, it hit me hard... (I had pushed my emotions down so I could be her primary caretaker). I was crying and listening to music when I ran across this song. The words still bring heavy tears... "I wonder if you know that I never understood that although you said you'd go, until you did I never thought you would." 😭

Just discovered this song and am playing it over and over again.

This song evokes a visceral reaction so powerful it feels like being punched in the solar plexus.

What a beautiful song ... I love Don McLean's music ... such a natural ... my new favorite song at the moment ... I miss my wife ... this is for you Sylvia!!! .... Ian

I heard Garth Brooks sing this once on a TV show with Don Mclean. Absolutely wonderful performance.

everything is a matter of taste and opinion,but some things rise above that,this certainly is one of the most saddest yet beautiful songs ever written,and sung to perfection.

I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did I never thought you would Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head A sympathy bouquet left with the love that's dead And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did I never thought you would Never thought the words you said were true Never thought you said just what you meant Never knew how much I needed you Never thought you'd leave, until you went Morning comes and morning goes with no regret And evening brings the memories I can't forget Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs And I wonder if you know That I never understood That although you said you'd go Until you did I never thought you would

He always paint pictures with his words like a Norman Rockwell on everyday things about America. He sings in codes so graphic that it could mean anything that one interprets it to be. It touches all souls. Compiled and many decades after can be a history of a whole generation in America that future gens can learn from. I became a fan. thanks.

I love this song. It's so soothing to the soul.

Don Mclean is not included in the Rolling Stone top 100 songwriters WHY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is probably my favourite Don Mclean song along with Castles in the Air. I sometimes attempt to play the song but can never get close to Don. Its magic

This song breaks my heart every time I hear it.

he's one of my fav. singers of all time

I bought the American Pie album on it's first release, and although I loved the songs, I was young, and just enjoyed them. These days, with so many years of my life gone by, I now feel the true meaning in this lovely song. :'-( And, I never knew the inspiration it provided for one of my most favorite songs of all time. How cool is that? :-)

EMPTY CHAIRS leaves me with EMPTY TEAR DUCTS every time i listen to it. 1 word........."whoahhhhhh!".

Don Mclean always touches my heart every time I hear one of his songs. The beautiful simplicity based on incredible complexity. Wonderful.

its simply a perfect blend of words music and voice,,,,,perfection

I have never heard this song before,its really beautiful.

From a time when music was beautiful. very profound lyrics and heartfelt emotion. I have always loved this song.

I had not heard this song before, now I understand why it inspired poetry and other songs. Thanks for posting it.

I've never heard this song until now (and I was raised in the 60s and 70s). Wow. Incredible writing. Don't know how I missed it all these years.