Bridge Over Troubled Water – English Lyrics

• By: Idina Menzel

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the timeless message of support and comfort through Idina Menzel's powerful live cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Experience how her vocal interpretation brings a fresh perspective to this classic ballad, offering a renewed appreciation for its poignant lyrics and enduring theme.

[English]

When you're weary, feeling small When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all

I'm on your side

When times get rough And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

[piano playing]

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

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Oh

Sail on silver girl Sail on by

Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine Oh, if you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

Oh

I will ease I will ease your mind

Silver girl, yeah

I will ease your mind

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
weary /ˈwɪəri/ B1	adjective - feeling very tired after a long period of physical or mental effort
dry /draɪ/ A1	verb - to remove moisture from something
rough /rʌf/ A2	adjective - having an uneven or bumpy surface
comfort /ˈkʌm.fərt/ A2	verb - to make someone feel less sad or anxious
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ A1	noun - the absence of light
pain /peɪn/ A1	noun - a strongly unpleasant bodily sensation
bridge /brɪdʒ/ A1	noun - a structure carrying a road, path, or railway over a river or other obstacle
troubled /ˈtrʌbəld/ B1	adjective - worried or upset about something
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a clear liquid that forms the seas, lakes, and rivers, and falls as rain
sail /seɪl/ A2	verb - to travel on water in a ship or boat
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ A1	adjective - of a gray-white color like that of silver
shine /ʃaɪn/ A2	verb - to emit light
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
ease /iːz/ B1	verb - to make something less severe or difficult
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks and feels

Key Grammar Structures

• When you're weary, feeling small

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense, Adjective Clause

  ➔ Uses "feeling" (present participle) to describe the state of being. "Small" is an adjective describing the state. "When" introduces a conditional clause (adverbial clause of time).

• When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all

  ➔ Present Simple Tense, Future Simple Tense, Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "When" introduces a time clause using present simple for a future action. "I'll dry" uses the future simple tense. "In your eyes" is a prepositional phrase.

• I'm on your side

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase, Contraction

  ➔ "On your side" is a prepositional phrase. "I'm" is a contraction of "I am".

• And friends just can't be found

  ➔ Modal Verb, Passive Voice

  ➔ "Can't" is a modal verb (can + not). "Be found" uses the passive voice.

• Like a bridge over troubled water

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase, Simile

  ➔ "Like a bridge over troubled water" is a prepositional phrase used as a simile (comparison using "like").

• I will lay me down

  ➔ Future Simple Tense, Reflexive Pronoun

  ➔ "I will lay" uses the future simple tense. "Me" is a reflexive pronoun, the subject and object is the same.

• When evening falls so hard

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time, Adverb of Degree

  ➔ "When" introduces an adverbial clause of time. "So" is an adverb of degree, modifying "hard".

• Sail on silver girl

  ➔ Imperative Sentence, Direct Address

  ➔ This is an imperative sentence giving a command or encouragement. "Silver girl" is a direct address, used to call someone's name.

• Your time has come to shine

  ➔ Present Perfect, Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "Has come" is the present perfect tense. "To shine" is an infinitive of purpose, explaining the reason for something.

• Oh, if you need a friend

  ➔ Conditional Clause, Present Simple

  ➔ The sentence introduces a conditional clause using "if" (type 1 conditional, likely). The verb "need" is in the present simple.