You know you’ve written a great song when Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, and Johnny Cash cover it. It’s the case of Simon & Garfunkel’s iconic “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. The song was penned by Paul Simon in 1969 and released on the album of the same name. In this article, I will dive into the meaning, story, and legacy behind “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel.
The State of Simon & Garfunkel in 1969
In 1969, significant friction emerged between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Art Garfunkel was in Mexico filming the movie Catch-22, leaving Paul Simon behind on his own. Paul Simon initially accepted a role in the movie too, but his part was quickly scrapped.
The friction got worse when the production of Catch-22 took longer than anticipated, causing Garfunkel to hop between the film set and the recording studio for almost the entirety of 1969. Nevertheless, the duo decided to start working on their next project: Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Paul Simon Creating the Song
Pretty much all the songs in Simon & Garfunkel’s repertoire were written by Paul Simon, as is the case with “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. The inspiration for the song came from multiple sources. Simon had been listening to the gospel group The Swan Silvertones, which influenced the usage of gospel chords in the song. A particular line from The Swan Silvertones’ song “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” – “I’ll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in my name” – was the inspiration for the song’s lyrical theme.
Paul Simon also mentioned Bach’s “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” as inspiration for the song’s melody. He initially wrote the song on guitar, but eventually worked out a piano composition to give the song a gospel-like sound. According to Paul Simon, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” came to him very quickly.
“I have no idea where it came from. It came all of a sudden,” Simon reflected. “It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, ‘This is considerably better than I usually write.”
Giving Away the Song to ‘Artie’
Despite writing the song, Paul Simon decided to ‘give away’ “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to Art Garfunkel. Most of the duo’s greatest hits – like “The Sound of Silence”, “The Boxer”, and “Mrs. Robinson” – are sung together, but Simon was convinced Art Garfunkel had to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” solo.
In later years, Paul Simon admitted he regretted giving away the song to Art Garfunkel. He started to wish he had sung the song himself, especially when he witnessed the audience’s euphoric response to Garfunkel’s performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
“Many times on stage, when I’d be sitting off to the side… and Artie would be singing it, people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think: ‘That’s my song, man,” Simon reflected. “Thank you very much. I wrote that.’ In the earlier days, when things were smoother, I never would have thought that, but towards the end when things were strained, I did.”
The Meaning of the Song
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a song about providing support to someone going through difficult times. In the lyrics, the singer provides comfort and assures he will aid by laying himself down like a bridge over troubled water.
Simon’s original version only had the first two verses. After the persistence of Garfunkel and producer Roy Halee, Paul Simon wrote the third verse of the song. The lyrics that start the third verse – “Sail on, Silver Girl” – were inspired by Paul Simon’s then-wife Peggy Harper, who was upset after she discovered her first gray hair.
The Legacy of Bridge Over Troubled Water
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” was released as a single on January 20, 1970. A month later, the song topped the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also topped the charts in the UK and Canada. At the year-end ranking from Billboard in 1970, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” ranked number 1. In 1971, the single won four Grammys, most notably for Record of the Year and Single of the Year, beating the likes of The Beatles and James Taylor.
Six days after the release of the single, on January 26, 1970, Simon & Garfunkel released the album of the same name. Bridge Over Troubled Water became Simon & Garfunkel’s most successful release, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. Sadly enough, as a result of the friction between the partners, the album was also Simon & Garfunkel’s last record. At least the childhood friends ended their career with an all-time great feat.
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