Bridge Over Troubled Water Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found

[Chorus]
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

[Verse 2]
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around

[Chorus]
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
[Verse 3]
Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind


[Chorus]
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

“Bridge over Troubled Water” is the titular song of Simon & Garfunkel’s album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, which was released in 2008. This song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and reigned at the top chart for six continuous weeks. “Bridge over Troubled Water” also topped the adult contemporary chart in the U.S. for six weeks. The single has sold 6 million copies worldwide.

This song’s recording process exposed many of the underlying tensions that eventually led to the breakup of the duo after the album’s completion. Most notably, Paul Simon has repeatedly expressed regret over his insistence that Art Garfunkel sang his song as a solo, as it focused attention on Garfunkel and relegated Simon to a secondary position. Art Garfunkel initially did not want to sing the lead vocals, feeling it was not right for him. “He felt I should have done it,” Paul Simon revealed to Rolling Stone in 1972. Garfunkel said that the moment when he performed it at a 1972 Madison Square Garden benefit concert, as part of a one-off reunion with Simon, was “almost biblical.”

Rolling Stone ranked it 48th on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In 2017 a cover version was released by the charity group Artists For Grenfell to raise money to support those affected by the fire that enveloped much of Grenfell Tower – an block of flats in London – and claimed 72 lives.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Simon & Garfunkel say about "Bridge Over Troubled Water"?
Genius Answer

In the documentary The Making of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon said:

It came all of a sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, ‘This is considerably better than I usually write.’

About having Garfunkel sing one of his biggest hits, Simon said:

Many times on stage, when I’d be sitting off to the side and Larry Knechtel would be playing the piano and Art would be singing “Bridge,” people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think, ‘That’s my song, man.’

What is the "story" behind the song's final verse, and what is the song about?
Genius Answer

Who released the first instrumental version of this song?
Genius Answer

The first instrumental version of this song was released by Art De Lory in July 1970.

Credits
Written By
String Arrangements By
Drums and Percussion By
Harmony Vocal
Lead Vocals By
Bass By
Recorded At
Columbia Studios, New York City, NY and CBS Columbia Square, Los Angeles, CA (August - November 1969)
Release Date
January 26, 1970
Bridge Over Troubled Water Covers
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Smith, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Buck Owens, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Roberta Flack, Bridge Over Troubled Water by David Archuleta, Bridge Over Troubled Water by All-4-One, Bridge Over Troubled Water (The Voice Performance) by Tessanne Chin, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Clay Aiken, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha Franklin, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Willie Nelson, Bridge over Troubled Water by Johnny Cash (Ft. Fiona Apple), Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aaron Neville, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Ont' Sofa Prime Studio Sessions) by BUD (Band), Bridge Over Troubled Water by Cilla Black, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem (Ft. The Muppets), Bridge Over Troubled Water by Johnny Mathis, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Natalie Grant & Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Bridge over Troubled Water (Live) by Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Billie Jo Spears, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Del Newman, Geh mit mir durch den Regenbogen (Bridge Over Troubled Water) by Eloy de Jong, Bridge over troubled water by Franco Battiato, Bridge Over Troubled Water by High Mountain Breezes (Ft. Gwen Sebastian, Heather Riley Beckett & Melissa DuVall-Karjala), Bridge Over Troubled Water by Hi-Standard, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Arthur Hanlon (Ft. Ha*Ash), Bridge Over Troubled Water by Idina Menzel, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live) by Idina Menzel, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Jerry Vale, Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Pat Kelly, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live At Blues Alley) [2021 Master] by Eva Cassidy, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Long Version) by Aretha Franklin, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Mat & Savanna Shaw, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Ruan Josh, Bridge over Troubled Water by The Neal Morse Band, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Vika & Linda, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Susan Egan, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Marcia Mitzman Gaven, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Dolly Parton & Bridge Over Troubled Water by Jacob Collier (Ft. John Legend & Tori Kelly)
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