For educational purposes, here are all the song lyrics and translations for the songs in 7 languages that appear on the Like A Bridge CD, DVD and Concert Film.
Like A Bridge – Lua Hadar with TWIST
All lyrics in the CD, DVD and Concert Film – alphabetical by song title
Beyond the Sea (La Mer)/Sur le Pont D’Avignon
Language: French
Words and music by Charles Trenet (France)
Arrangement by Jason Martineau and Lua Hadar
La mer The sea that we see
Qu’on voit danser le long des golfes clairs Dancing along the clear gulfs
A des reflets d’argent, La mer the silver reflections
Des reflets changeants the changing reflections
Sous la pluie under the rain
La mer the sea, the summer sky
Au ciel d’été confond ses blancs moutons confuses the white sheep
Avec les anges si purs, La mer with angels so pure
bergère d’azur the sea, shepherd of the blue
Infinie so infinite
Voyez, près des étangs Look, near the ponds
Ces grands roseaux mouillés the large wet reeds
Voyez, ces oiseaux blancs Look, the white birds
Et ces maisons rouillées And the rusted houses
La mer the sea rocks them all
Les a bercés le long des golfes clairs along the clear gulfs
Et d’une chanson d’amour and with a love song
La mer the sea
A bercé mon cœur pour la vie rocks my heart for life
Sur le Pont D’Avignon on the bridge of Avignon
On y danse, on y danse we dance, we dance
Sur le Pont D’Avignon on the bridge of Avignon
On y danse tous ensemble we dance together
Voyez, près des étangs Look, near the ponds
Ces grands roseaux mouillés the large wet reeds
Voyez, ces oiseaux blancs Look, the white birds
Et ces maisons rouillées And the rusted houses
La mer the sea rocks them all
Les a bercés le long des golfes clairs along the clear gulfs
Et d’une chanson d’amour and with a love song
La mer the sea
A bercé mon cœur pour la vie rocks my heart for life
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Language: English
Words and Music by Paul Simon (USA)
Arrangement by Jason Martineau
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
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
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
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
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 when 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
…
your mind
Child Of Man
Languages: English, Hebrew
Lyrics: Achinoam Nini (Noa) Music: (Noa) / Gil Dor (Israel)
If I were a desert flower
All winter long I’d pain and cower
Spring would make me sing
My voice would ring as tiny buds begin to bloom
In spring I’d blossom and forget the winter’s gloom.
If I were a brook of water
Kissed by the frost along my borders
Spring would make me sing
My voice would ring – as I’d release my ice chains
In spring I’d bubble and forget the winter’s rains.
But I am only a child of man
I am only a child of man
Just an innocent child of man
Don’t look so surprised as my eyes shine and glow
It’s the sunlight in the skies that is making me so.
Don’t look so surprised as my eyes shine and glow
It’s the sunlight in the skies that is making me so
If I were a joyful songbird
All winter long so cold and somber
Spring would make me sing
My voice would ring – like tiny bells on scarves of silk
A song as beautiful and pure as mother’s milk.
But I am only a child of man
I am only a child of man, just an innocent child of man
Don’t look so surprised as my eyes shine and glow
It’s the sunlight in the skies that is making me so.
Don’t look so surprised as my eyes shine and glow
It’s the sunlight in the skies that is making me so.
Don’t be surprised by this look in my eyes
Like a flower or tree – I will bloom in the spring
I will shed all my woes – as the green grass grows
Like a flower or tree – I will throw my head back & sing!
lu ha-i-ti etz o per-ach, etz o per-ach. (I wish I were a flower or tree)
Imagina
Language: Portuguese
Tom Jobim + Chico Barque (Brazil)
Arrangement by Jason Martineau
Imagina, imagina
Imagine, Imagine
Hoje à noite a gente se perder
Tonight people get lost
Imagina, imagina
Imagine, Imagine
Hoje à noite a lua se apagar
Tonight the moon goes out
Quem já viu a lua cris
Who already saw the crescent moon
Quando a lua começou a murchar
When the moon began to wane
Lua cris
The crescent moon
É preciso gritar e correr, socorrer o luar
It is right to shout and run, help the moonlight
Meu amor
My love
Abre a porta prá noite passar
open the door for the night to pass
E olha o sol da manhã
And it looks at the sun of the morning
Olha a chuva, olha a chuva
Look at the rain, it looks at the rain
Olha o sol
It looks at the sun
Olha o dia a lançar serpentinas It looks the day to launch streamers
Serpentinas pelo céu, sete fitas coloridas
Streamers for the sky, seven colorful strips
Sete vias
Sete vidas, avenidas, avendias Seven ways, seven lives, seven roads
prá qualquer lugar
to any place
Imagina, imagina, imagina, imagina
Imagine Imagine Imagine Imagine
Sabe que o menino que passar debaixo do Imagine that the boy who passes under
arco-íris vira, moça, vira the rainbow becomes a girl
A menina que cruzar de volta o The girl who crosses under the rainbow
arco-íris rapidinho volta a ser rapaz
becomes a boy again
A menina que passou no arco the girl who passes under the arch
Era o menino que passou no arco E vai virar menina
is the boy who passed under the arch
Imagina, imagina, imagina, imagina and she will become a girl again, Imagine.
imagina, imagina
Imagine, Imagine
Hoje à noite a gente se perder
Tonight the people lose themselves
Imagina, imagina
Imagine, Imagine
Hoje à noite, a lua se apagar Tonight the moon goes out.
Né Quelque Part
Languages: French, Zulu
Words: Maxime Le Forestier; Music: Maxime Le Forestier and Jean-Pierre Sabar
*Appears only on the Like A Bridge DVD
On choisit pas ses parents We do not choose our parents
On choisit pas sa famille We do not choose our family
On choisit pas non plus We neither choose
Les trottoirs de Manille The sidewalks of Manila
De Paris ou d’Alger or Paris or Algiers
Pour apprendre à marcher to learn to walk
Être né quelque part To be born somewhere
Être né quelque part To be born somewhere
Pour celui qui est né For he who is born
C’est toujours un hazard It is always by chance
ZULU CHOIR: Nom’inqwando yes qwag iqwahasa
Nom’inqwando yes qwag iqwahasa The bully has lost his mind
Y’a des oiseaux de basse-cour There are barnyard birds
Et des oiseaux de passage and birds of passage
Ils savent où sont leurs nids they know where their nests are
Qu’ils rentrent de voyage when they come back from a voyage
Ou qu’ils restent chez eux or if they stay home
Ils savent où sont leurs oeufs They know where their eggs are.
Être né quelque part to be born someplace
Être né quelque part to be born someplace
C’est partir quand on veut it is to leave when one wants
Revenir quand on part come back when one leaves.
ZULU CHOIR: Nom’inqwando yes qwag iqwahasa
Nom’inqwando yes qwag iqwahasa The bully has lost his mind
Est-ce que les gens naissent égaux en droits Are people born equal in rights
À l’endroit où ils naissent? In the place they are born?
ZULU CHOIR – Nom’inqwando yes qwag iqwahasa The bully has lost his mind
Est-ce que les gens naissent égaux en droits Are people born equal in rights
À l’endroit où ils naissent In the place they are born?
Que les gens naissent pareils ou pas ? Are people born equal or not?
ZULU SOLOIST –
Abantwana bayagxuma, becahselana bexoxa The crazy man is chasing them
Est-ce que les gens naissent égaux en droits Are people born equal in rights
À l’endroit où ils naissent In the place they are born?
Que les gens naissent pareils ou pas ? Are people born equal or not?
Ojalá Que Llueva Café
Language: Spanish
Words, Music: Juan Luis Guerra (Dominican Republic)
Ojalá que llueva café en el campo If only it would rain coffee in the fields
que caiga un aguacero de yuca y té may a downpour of yucca and tea fall down
del cielo una jarina de queso blanco From the sky a flour of white cheese streaming
y al sur una montaña de berro y miel to the south a mountain of watercress & honey
oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, ojalá que llueva café If only it would rain coffee
Ojalá que llueva café en el campo If only it would rain coffee in the fields
peinar un alto cerro de trigo y mapuey and comb a high hill of wheat and mapuey root
bajar por la colina de arroz graneado and go down the hill of grained rice
y continuar el arado con tu querer and continue the ploughing with your love
oh, oh, oh-oh-oh…
Ojalá el otoño en vez de hojas secas if only, in the fall, instead of dry leaves
vista mi cosecha de pitisalé the harvest would be dressed with bacon
sembrar una llanura de batata y fresas sow a prairie with batatas and strawberries
ojalá que llueva café If only it would rain coffee
Pa’ que en el conuco no se sufra tanto to decrease suffering in the small farms
ojalá que llueva café en el campo If only it would rain coffee
pa que en Villa Vásquez oigan este canto So that they hear this song in Villa Vasquez
ojalá que llueva café en el campo If only it would rain coffee in the fields
ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva, If only it would rain, if only it would rain
ojalá que llueva café en el campo If only it would rain coffee in the fields
ojalá que llueva café If only it would rain coffee
ojalá que llueva, ojalá que llueva
ojalá que llueva café en el campo
ojalá que llueva café
CAFÉ!
Raha mbola misy (If There Is…)
Language: Malagasy
Music & lyrics: Bessa sy lola (Madagascar)
Raha mbola misy tsiky If there is another smile
Azonao asedra ny ronjon’ny ankaso and if you have still have time to live and share happiness
Nahoana indrindra iky but then why, my little one
No dia laniana foana ny vongan-draromaso do you lament and cry?
Raha mbola misy ihany If there are still
Kintana mamiratra azonao banjinina Stars that shine, that you can admire
Nahoana no tomany no andanianao Then why is it, with tears,
Ny alin’ny ririnina that you waste your nights of Winter?
Raha mbola misy kalo If there is still a song
Azonao hiraina anaty fahavaratra To sing during the rainy season
Nahoana no himalo Why do you lament
Mahita vodilanitra mosarena taratra Seeing the horizon, hungry for light
Raha mbola misy ihany If there are still
Kintana mamiratra azonao banjinina Stars that shine, that you can admire
Nahoana no tomany no andanianao Then why is it, with tears,
Ny alin’ny ririnina that you waste your nights of Winter?
Raha mbola misy kalo If there is still a song
Azonao hiraina anaty fahavaratra To sing during the rainy season
Nahoana no himalo Why do you lament
Mahita vodilanitra mosarena taratra Seeing the horizon, hungry for light
San Francisco
Language: French
Words & Music: Maxime Le Forestier (France)
C’est une maison bleue It’s a blue house
Adossée à la colline On the hill
On y vient à pied We go on foot
On ne frappe pas We do not knock
Ceux qui vivent là ont jeté la clé Those who live there have thrown away the key
On se retrouve ensemble We meet together
Après des années de route After years on the road
Et on vient s’asseoir And we come to sit
Autour du repas Around a meal
Tout le monde est là a cinq heures du soir Everyone is there at 5pm
Quand San Francisco s’embrume When San Francisco gets misty
Quand San Francisco s’allume When San Francisco lights up
San Francisco San Francisco
Où êtes-vous Lizzard et Luc, Psylvia Where are you, Lizzard, Luc, Sylvia
Attendez-moi Wait for me
Nageant dans le brouillard Swimming in the fog
Enlacés roulant dans l’herbe Tied together rolling in the grass
On écoutera Tom à la guitar We listen to Tom on the guitar
Phil à la kena jusqu’à la nuit noire Phil on the kena, until the dark of night
Un autre arriverà Another will arrive
Pour nous dire des nouvelles To tell us the news
D’un qui reviendra dans un an ou deux Of one who will return in a year or two
Puisqu’il est heureux on s’endormira Since he is happy we fall asleep
Quand San Francisco se lève… When San Francisco wakes up
Quand San Francisco se lève… When San Francisco wakes up
San Francisco San Francisco
Où êtes-vous Lizard et Luc, Psylvia Where are you, Lizzard, Luc, Sylvia
Attendez-moi Wait for me.
C’est une maison bleue It is a blue house
Accrochée à ma mémoire Nestled in my memory
On y vient à pied We go on foot
On ne frappe pas We do not knock
Ceux qui vivent là ont jeté la clé Those who live there have thrown away the key
Peuplée de cheveux longs Peopled with long-haired folks
De grands lits et de musique Big beds and music
Peuplée de lumière Peopled with light
Et peuplée de fous Peopled with crazy folks
Elle sera dernière a rester debout She will be the last to stay standing
Si San Francisco s’effondre… If San Francisco collapses
Si San Francisco s’effondre… If San Francisco collapses
San Francisco San Francisco
Où êtes-vous Lizzard et Luc, Psylvia Where are you, Lizzard, Luc, Syliva?
Attendez-moi Wait for me
Stregata dall’Amor
Arranged by Jason Martineau and Lua Hadar
Language: Italian
Arrangement of the theme from Fellini’s La Strada by Nino Rota and M. Galdieri, with Ravel’s Bolero. (Italy/France)
Tu, che amar non sai You, who do not know how to love
Tu, che amar non puoi You, who cannot love
Sei stregata dall’amor You are bewitched by love
Son quest’occhi tuoi There are your eyes
Freddi piu’ che mai Colder than ever
Ma che febbre nel tuo cuor! But what fever in your heart!
Hai sulle labbra quei baci che non dai e che non vuoi
You have on your mouth the kisses you do not give and do not want
Nel desiderio che giammai si spegnerá!
In the desire that will never extinguish
Con l’amor piu’ vero With the love most true
Mi son perso in te I lost myself in you
Ma per me tu non sei che un mistero But for me you are only a mystery
Tu, che amar non sai You, who do not know how to love
Tu, che amar non puoi You, who cannot love
Sei stregata dall’amor You are bewitched by love
Ue O Muite Arukou/Sukiyaki
Language: Japanese & English
Nakamura & Ei, 1963 (Japan)
Ue o muite arukou
I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai you ni
So the tears won’t fall
Omoidasu haru no hi
Remembering those happy spring days
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I’m all alone
Ue o muite arukou
I look up when I walk
Nijinda hoshi o kazoete
Counting the stars with tearful eyes
Omoi dasu natsu no hi
Remembering those happy summer days
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I’m all alone
Shiawase wa kumo no ue ni
Happiness lies beyond the clouds
Shiawase wa sora no ue ni Happiness lies above the sky
Ue o muite arukou
I look up when I walk
Namida ga kobore nai you ni
So the tears won’t fall
Nakinagara arukou
Though my heart is filled with sorrow
Hitoribotchi no yoru But tonight I’m all alone
As I walk alone, lonely winds seem to say
From this darkness on, all your nights will be this way
So I’ll go on alone, pretending you’re not gone
But I can’t hide all the moments of love we knew
Memories of you, as I go through
My first lonely nights without you.
Hitoribotchi no yoru
Lua Hadar with TWIST: Like A Bridge 