Nickel Creek - The Lighthouse's Tale - ASL Song

American Sign Language (ASL) Version of Nickel Creek's haunting song "The Lighthouse's Tale." Performed by Stephen Torrence. Lyrics/gloss below:

I am a lighthouse worn by the weather and the waves
I LIGHTHOUSE, WEATHER, WAVES DETERIORATE-ME
I keep my lamp lit to warn the sailors on their way
LIGHT-ALL, WARN SAILORS (SAILING AWAY)
I'll tell a story, paint you a picture from my past
I TELL STORY, SHOW-YOU MY PAST
I was so happy but joy in this life seldom lasts
PAST I HAPPY, BUT JOY NOT CONTINUE

I had a keeper, he helped me warn the ships at sea
I HAVE CARETAKER, HE HELP-ME WARN SHIPS
We had grown closer 'til his joy meant everything to me
TWO-OF-US CLOSE, I DEPEND-ON-HIM
And he was to marry a girl who shown with beauty and light
HE PLAN MARRY GIRL, BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT
They loved each other, and with me watched the sunsets into nights
TWO-OF-THEM LOVE, THREE-OF-US WATCH SUNSET

And the waves crashing around me
WAVES (CRASH AROUND)
The sand slips out to sea
SAND (GOES-OUT-INTO) SEA
And the winds that blow remind me
WIND (BLOWING) REMIND-ME
Of what has been and what can never be
PAST AND FUTURE LOST

She'd had to leave us; my keeper, he prayed for a safe return
GIRL MUST LEAVE, CARETAKER PRAY SHE COME-BACK
But when the night came, the weather to a raging storm had turned
NIGHT, WEATHER BECOME STORM
He watched her ship fight, but in vain against the wild and terrible wind
WE WATCH, SHIP (MOVING), WIND (ASSAULT IT)
And me so helpless, as dashed against the rocks she met her end
I HELPLESS, SHIP DESTROYED, SHE DIE

(Chorus)

Then on the next day, my keeper found her washed up on the shore
NEXT DAY, CARETAKER FIND GIRL
He kissed her cold face, and that they'd be together soon he swore
HE KISS-HER, PROMISE TWO-OF-THEM TOGETHER SOON
I saw him crying, watched as he buried her in the sand
HE CRY, BURY HER (UNDERNEATH) SAND
Then he climbed my tower, and off the edge of me he ran
HE (CL: CLIMB-ME, RUN, JUMP INTO WATER)

(Chorus)

I am a lighthouse worn by the weather and the waves
I LIGHTHOUSE, WEATHER, WAVES DETERIORATE-ME
And though I'm empty I still warn the sailors on their way
I ALONE, BUT STILL WARN SAILORS

Category:

Music

Tags:

• nickel creek
• sign language
• ASL
• the lighthouses's tale
• ASL song

[Skorphie]

What is the thingey you do between verses?

[CaptainValor]

@Skorphie The lighthouse rotating. :)

[mssag19]

I used your video as a reference for my asl project :)

[CaptainValor]

@mssag19 I hope you used proper MLA style. ;)

[BlackBird89460]

Son of a bitch, I think I'm crying.

[waitWHATdamit]

loved your facial expression, you did a wonderful job on this song

[mastermindgift]

this one of the best song ever created and you made it look and sound much better

[sundalius]

@CaptainValor I've never heard this song... Thank you Stephen. It's a beautiful piece and your interpretation was great. Even not a deaf community member, I could tell the interpretation clearly. You've taught me a lot... Thank you so much Stephen

[nedduts12388]

This is amazing, wow.

[DazeWolf]

Aw, I love Nickel Creek. So pretty! It would be awesome if you did more like these.

[alilona]

This is the most beautiful song I have ever seen. It makes me so emotional and is so inspiring to me. Thank you for choosing to do this song!

[ZeeConstantine]

I love Nickel Creek, that was an amazing job... I cried a lil oh...

[kerrynoel42]

I'm not exactly sure how, but ASL seemed to make the song even more tragic. I absolutely love this song and you did a great job with it :)