I wish I knew how it would feel to be free - Billy Taylor & Dick Dallas

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 20 March 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

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

1. ME REALLY-WANT KNOW HOW FEEL FREE*.
HAVE MANY CHAIN CONNECT-TO-GROUND NEED BREAK.
HAVE MANY THINGS WANT EXPRESS*.
||: (<) ANNOUNCE LOUD, (>) SAY CLEAR. WANT ALL WORLD PAY-ATTENTION ME. :||

2. ME REALLY-WANT SHARE ALL LOVE INSIDE-SELF HEART.
BARRIER BETWEEN TWO-OF-US SHOULD BARRIER-DOWN.
WISH YOU CAN KNOW WHAT MY LIFE LIKE.
||: HAPPEN? HELP-you KNOW WHY EVERYONE SHOULD FREE*. :||

3. ME REALLY-WANT alt.GIFT EVERYTHING I CAN.
ME REALLY-WANT TAKE-ADVANTAGE++ LIFE.
ME WISH CAN MAKE EVERY POSSIBLE THING ME CAN DO, HAPPEN.
||: ME PUT-OFF++ TOO LONG. BETTER START AGAIN. :||

4. ME REALLY-WANT BECOME LIKE BIRD FLY-AWAY.
LIKE BIRD (2h)1-CL'fly away' MEAN LIFE SWEET.
GO-TOWARDS-GOAL SUN, LOOK-DOWN SEA.
||: HAPPEN FINISH, ME SING BECAUSE FEEL FREE. :||


Notes: REALLY-WANT - WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

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

INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

BARRIER - (2h)[B], cross at wrists and are held up as a barrier and move forward slightly.

BARRIER-DOWN - (2h)[B], cross at wrists and are held up as a barrier but the hands are brought down as if the barrier were being removed.

alt.GIFT - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs > the recipents, hands move together from NDS to DS.

TAKE-ADVANTAGE++ - [5:], PO > signer, FO > NDS, moves down uptruned palm from FT to wrist several times, ending with a slight upward movement as if grabbing up things.

FLY-AWAY - (2h)[1] cross fingers as in CONFLICT and move up and away while repeatedly curling fingers like flapping wings.

GO-TOWARDS-GOAL - like the sign GOAL but the DH moves in a vertical circle while going towards the goal to show a constant process.

Lyrics:

1. I wish I knew how it would feel to be free;
I wish I could break all the chains holding me.
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear for the whole round world to hear.

2. I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart,
Remove all the bars that keep us apart.
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free.

3. I wish I could give all I'm long - ing to give;
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live.
I wish that I could do all the things that I can do
Though I'm way o - ver - due, I'd be start - ing anew.

4. Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky;
Oh, I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know,
I'd know how it feels, I'd know how it feels to be free,

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