Song for the Asking by Paul Simon, Bridge Over Troubled Water

Song for the Asking by Paul Simon, Bridge Over Troubled Water

Approaching Literary Genres p. 54 Millennium

Song for the Asking Here is my song for the asking, Ask me and I will play So sweetly, I'll make you smile This is my tune for the taking, Take it, don't turn away. I've been waiting all my life. Thinking it over, I’ve been sad. Thinking it over, I’d be more than glad To change my ways for the asking. Ask me and I will play All the love that I hold inside

FOCUS ON THE 1.

MEANING

Highlight in pink two words that could stand for love. Notice that “love” is mentioned only in the last line.

•The words “asking” (ll.1,9) and “taking” (l.4) stand for love, since they are two basic components of love (asking to be accepted and taking the love the other person gives you). 2.

Highlight in blue two expressions that indicate the lover is shy.

• The lover needs to be encouraged (“ask me”, l.2) to express his love, but then he will express it “sweetly” (l. 3) so as to make the loved one smile. He is afraid that his love may not be accepted. “Take it, don’t turn away” (l. 5)

Song for the Asking Here is my song for the asking, Ask me and I will play So sweetly, I'll make you smile This is my tune for the taking, Take it, don't turn away. I've been waiting all my life. Thinking it over, I’ve been sad. Thinking it over, I’d be more than glad To change my ways for the asking. Ask me and I will play All the love that I hold inside

FOCUS ON THE 3.

MEANING

Highlight in yellow one more expressions that indicates the lover is lonely.

“I've been waiting all my life”. (l.6); “Thinking it over, I’ve been sad”. (l.7) FOCUS ON THE

GENRE

4. Describe the rhyme scheme of the poem. • abc, abc, dda, be. 5. Are any of the rhyming words relevant to the general meaning of the poem . • The two key rhyming words are “asking” and “taking”. 6.

Highlight in red more words or expressions that refer to music. • The words referring to music are “song” (l.1), “I will play” (ll.2,10); “tune” l. 4).

Song for the Asking Here is my song for the asking, Ask me and I will play So sweetly, I'll make you smile This is my tune for the taking, Take it, don't turn away. I've been waiting all my life. Thinking it over, I’ve been sad. Thinking it over, I’d be more than glad To change my ways for the asking. Ask me and I will play All the love that I hold inside

FOCUS ON THE

GENRE

7. Underline other repetitions and parallel structures in the song. Here is my song for the asking …. This is my tune for the taking (ll. 1, 4); Ask me and I will play (ll. 2,10); Thinking it over I’ve been sad / thinking it over, I’d be more than glad (ll. 7-8).

8. What effect do you think they have on the listener / reader ? Give reasons for your choice/s:  Monotonous  They stress the lover’s feelings  Didactic • They stress the lover’s feelings making the reader (or listener) perceive how intense his love is and how he feels the necessity of expressing it again and again in different ways.