In the lyrics of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," here are prominent examples of figurative language:
1) "Feeling small"--an idiom denoting that the person has been made to feel less than others and/or insignificant
2) "Like a bridge over troubled water"--a simile suggesting that the person's love for the struggling person is not going to alleviate the struggles, but that the love will help the person struggling not to drown in his/her problems
3) "Down and out"--an idiom usually used to describe someone who has fallen on hard times (as opposed to someone who has always been in a precarious state)
4) "Sail on"--an implied metaphor suggesting that the struggling person is a boat or on a boat in the troubled waters, and that is why it is so hard for him/her to get out of the problems
5) "Your time has come to shine"/"See how they shine"--implied metaphors suggesting that the person and/or the person's dreams are made of something precious (silver?) or even the sun itself (emphasizing light, goodness, life, or hope for a new day)
Considering that this song is usually used as a song of hope, almost all of the figurative language in it supports the speaker's message that having a source of support and love can make even the most troubling situations less troubling.
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