Final answer:
The 1973 soft rock song that was written in response to Don McLean's 'American Pie' is 'Killing Me Softly with His Song' by Roberta Flack.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1973 soft rock song written in response to Don McLean's "American Pie" is "Killing Me Softly with His Song", performed by Roberta Flack. The composition, which portrays the experience of feeling deeply moved by a song, was penned by songwriters Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox. It's thought to articulate the emotional impact experienced by listeners of "American Pie", a piece famously reflecting on the birth of rock and roll and the changes it brought. The narrative style and introspective quality of Flack's song harkens back to the poignancy found in McLean's hit, capturing the spirit of an era through its deeply-stirred musical commentary.