Ding dong merrily on high - 16th century French traditional

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 17 May 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

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

HEAVEN ITSELF HAVE BELL,
ANGEL RING-BELL+.
NOTICE ANGEL SCADS-OF.
THEY-rt,hi BUSY SING.

Refrain: ||: WE PRAISE GOD. AMEN-lf, AMEN-rt. WHY?
AUTHORITY HIS-ctr,hi SUPREME. :|| HALLELUJAH!

HERE EARTH SAME-AS-heaven
CHURCH BELL PEOPLE RING-BELL+.
COME-ON #ALL-OF-US,
PRIEST, PEOPLE SING TOGETHER. Refrain

ME ASK YOU-lf DO YOUR-lf DUTY.
MORNING PRAY RING-BELL+.
ALSO ASK YOU-rt DO YOUR-rt DUTY.
SING BEAUTIFUL EVENING WORSHIP. Refrain


Notes: BELL - [bX], FO down, is held against NDH [B], PO > DS, FO up, is shaken, moves > DS, then returns to being held against the palm of NDH.

ANGEL - (2h)[B^] touch FTs to shoulders, then arms extended and bent move slightly as if flying gently.

RING-BELL - Mime ringing a huge church bell by pulling down on a rope several times.

SCADS-OF - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward to show many beings.

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

Refrain: - This is not a strict translation but a drawn-out way of saying it, since the "Gloria" is dragged out the way only hearing people could enjoy.

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

AMEN - (2h)[B], FOs up, are pressed together and brought down in a long, deliberate motion. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Amen.

SUPREME - (2h)[A], FOs away, DH starts below NDH and arcs around it until it is on top.

HALLELUJAH! - CLAP-HANDS~CELEBRATE + open hands into (2h)[5] while lifting.

COME-ON - (2h)[B^] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

#ALL-OF-US - [A], PO > NDS, FO up touches DS shoulder then [L^], PO > signer touches NDS shoulder.

PRIEST - [G], PO > signer, FO up, moves across neck from NDS to DS to show clerical collar.

DUTY - D-WORK.

WORSHIP - NDH is clasped over DH [S] and hands circle perpendicular to the chest. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Worship.

Lyrics:

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to Ding dong merrily on high and click on "MIDI."

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