Jonathan Coulton – Big Bad World One – ASL Song

Posted byaslsign 25 Comments on Jonathan Coulton – Big Bad World One – ASL Song


“Big Bad World One” by Jonathan Coulton, performed in sign language by Stephen Torrence. This one’s about a lonely, frustrated guy who’s fed up with life, and it’s Song #2 of December Song Week. Lyrics/gloss below as always. All alone by the table of food WEAR SUIT, WRINKLED, TIE, BORROW In my wrinkled suit and my borrowed tie I ALONE NEXT-TO FOOD TABLE, Only thinking of something to say GIRL WALK-BY, In the moment after the girl walks by I SUDDEN IDEA, MISS Everyone else is having fun or else pretending to ALL PEOPLE ENJOY PARTY, PRETEND I eat another crudité MORE VEGETABLE I EAT I quit, I’m done I QUIT, I FINISH Cause I don’t think it’s gonna turn out OK I NOT THINK FUTURE OK It’s no fair, it’s no fun NOT EQUAL, NOT FUN If every time it’s gonna end the same way: FAIL+++ SAME-ALL Me zero ME, 0/NOTHING Big bad world one BAD WORLD, 1 At the office we’re all having cake OFFICE, WE CAKE EAT Cause it’s someone’s birthday, I don’t know who BIRTHDAY WHO? DONT-KNOW Got my plate and I’m scanning the room PLATE HOLD, LOOK-AROUND and the only seat is right next to you ONLY CHAIR, GIRL [NEXT-TO-HER] I get the nod, the tiny smile that doesn’t come with teeth I SIT-DOWN, SMILE [AT-HER], SHE [SMILLE SMILE] Maybe you don’t know who I am MAYBE SHE NOT KNOW ME [chorus] Staying inside, lying in bed I STAY INSIDE, BED [LAY BACK] Noticing something that’s not there BESIDE-ME NOTHING Follow my heart, follow my head HEART FOLLOW, HEAD FOLLOW I’ll follow anything that might get me somewhere ….

Join the Conversation

25 Comments

  2. @geniko29 Qdammit is correct, it was a costume choice. I would not wear a watch if I were interpreting professionally.

  6. cozzi, I dont know what are you talking about? that is silly question to ask, by the way I wear hearing aid, make sense?

  7. I know this is a personal question, but you mentioned you were deaf and i was just pondering if deaf people still heal certain sounds in their head because a deaf person once told me he hears squeeks and groans in his mind even though he is deaf.

  16. Stephen, your videos are always a pleasure to watch. I like how you get into character with the costumes which only fuels to immersion in the video. It’s also been helping me stay in practice for signing since I’ve moved away from my partners. Can’t wait to see more!

  17. Sorry, but your watch on your wrist is distracting (dont feel offend okay?)- since I’m deaf, next time take it off! otherwise you did good 🙂

  18. @Ninja9191 I was watching him film this on UStream. He was having lighting problems and I had to go before I saw the outcome. So I was glad that they were fixed.

  19. By the end I felt so sorry for you, well, for the guy you were portraying I could almost cry! Of course, I also felt guilty for breaking up with you when you did “The Seven Things I Hate About You” when I dhouldn’t have felt guilty at all, lol.
    The camera loves you and you are such a fantastic actor- it won’t surprise me to hear you have an agent and get into film or tv someday.
    Thank you for a great Christmas Present!
    PS loved how you couldn’t stop bopping and bouncing to the music.

  20. Wow two very different songs for December. Both amazing and very Inspiring. Thanks for the videos. Keep it up.

  21. Thank you, thank you, thank you for introducing me to the amazing Jonathan Coulton, my new favorite singer! I think it takes a person with a certain sense of humor to appreciate him, and I’m glad you’re one of them!

  23. you wouldn’t love helvetica so much if you had to watch a three hour film about it. argh.
    it is good design, though. there’s no arguing that. :]

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *