Bridge over troubled water - Paul Simon

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 23 June 2008, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

IF YOU-ctr EXHAUSTED, FEEL DEFLATED,
YOUR-ctr EYES TEAR-UP, ME #DO-DO?
WIPE-AWAY-your-TEARS WILL.
ME WILLING SUPPORT"over time", IF LIFE SEEM ROUGH+.
YOUR-ctr FRIENDS alt.GO-AWAY,

Refrain: ||: IDEA-LIKE BRIDGE OVER WATER CRASH-SHORE
ME PROTECT"over time". :||

IF LIFE NOSE-DIVE FINISH,
YOU-ctr HAVE NO HOME.
EVERY-NIGHT alt.HIT-CHIN, HAPPEN?
ME COMFORT YOU-ctr;
ME FIGHT FOR YOU-ctr.
IF NIGHT DARK"step-by-step",
PAIN SURROUND YOU-ctr, Refrain

FEEL FREE LIKE SAILBOAT,
WIND PUSH, PUSH.
BRIGHT TIME ARRIVE"step-by-step".
YOUR-ctr VISION BECOME TRUE WILL.
YOUR-ctr FUTURE SHINY+.
IF YOU-ctr NEED FRIEND HELP,
ME SAIL GO-WITH YOU-ctr Refrain


Notes: YOU - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

EXHAUSTED - TIRED + [V], PO up, FO > NDS, is drawn with effort across the palm of [B], PO up, FO away.

DEFLATED - [C], PO > NDS, FO up, is held at midchest and closes to [O^]. You can hold [B], PO down, FO > DS underneath it.

TEAR-UP - (2h)[1] point to eyes and then bend into (2h)[X].

WIPE-AWAY-your-TEARS - First wipe away the tears under your own eyes, moving hands to side rather than down (looks nicer), then mime wiping away the tears of someone standing in front of you.

alt.GO-AWAY - (2h)[5], POs > signer, FOs up, alt. move away, closing to [O^].

The signs between "||:" and ":||" are to be repeated.

IDEA-LIKE - A blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which is signed smoothly right afterwards.

CRASH-SHORE - (2h)[B], NDH PO down, FO > DS, is held still and DH smacks against it and moves up with wg to show waves crashing on the rocks.

NOSE-DIVE - NDH [B], PO > DS, FO diagonally up, DH [Bb] dives down while side-swiping NDH palm.

alt.HIT-CHIN - with fists.

COMFORT - Like COMFORTABLE but signed more slowly.

DARK"step-by-step" - Hands move slowly with three sudden stops.

SURROUND - [5], PO down, FO away, circles above NDH [1], PO > DS, FO up.

SAILBOAT/SAIL

ARRIVE"step-by-step" - Hands move slowly with three sudden stops.

VISION - VISUALIZE.

SHINY - (2h)[open 8], POs down, FOs away, twist rapidly at wrists while rising. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Shine.

GO-WITH - (2h)[A] press palms together and move forward.

Lyrics:

When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,

Refrain: ||: Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down. :||

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around, Refrain

Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind. Refrain

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo see a performance of this song, go to Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Home