I'll lay me down vs. I'll lie down

meantolearnHi,

"Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lie lay [myself] down"

Is any difference in meaning between "I will lay me down" and "I will lie down"?

Thanks

Hi, Meantolearn.This way is really no difference. Did I misunderstand you?

Hi, Fandorin.

Are you a native English speaker?

I don't think you mislead me.

Thanks

No, I am not. But the phrasal verb "lay down" is transitive which means it should connect direct object, and that phrasal verb doesn't fit the bill in your case.

You're welcome.

"I will lay me down" is a more poetic way to say it -- it sounds vaguely like a prayer. There is a common childhood bedtime prayer that begins, "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

meantolearnIs any difference in meaning between "I will lay me down" and "I will lie down"?

No difference except style. "lay me down" is in Biblical style, i.e., old-fashioned. (It's in one of the psalms, for example.) This particular way of expressing the thought works well in the song, but it's not the way that anybody talks or writes anymore in "nor

CalifJim

meantolearnIs any difference in meaning between "I will lay me down" and "I will lie down"?

No difference except style. "lay me down" is in Biblical style, i.e., old-fashioned. (It's in one of the psalms, for example.)

This particular way of expressing the thought works well in the song,
CJ

Heya,

This thread seems old so I don't know if anyone will ever find this, but...

The phrase "I will lay me down" is grammatically incorrect, but was written this way because it builds off of a metaphor.

In English, we would say "I will lay a bridge down over troubled waters," so in this song, "a bridge" is replaced with the word "me" to show that the speaker is willing

AnonymousThe phrase "I will lay me down" is grammatically incorrect

Hi, Maythe.
Seems like you make an excellent case for its being correct.

I have seen alot of people asking this question. Bridge over troubled waters, is a spiritual song, bordering on Christian song. "Like bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down", meaning, *** will be your bridge, let him be there for you when no one else is around, he will lay himself down to be your bridge.