Our "minds" have been "eased" to say the least! Key's original thesis in "Subliminal Seduction" was that advertisers were using sex to sell products, especially booze. The Bridge is the "highway" (recorded in many religious Genius song-writing. The final verse was written about Simon's then-wife Peggy Harper, who had recently noticed her first gray hairs ("Sail on, silvergirl"). Therefore, I always assumed 'the bridge' was Jesus and the song was about how He would always be there for us, no matter what. He felt I should have done it. It doesn't seem like me.". Their Heroin use is gifting them temporary peace: "All your dreams are on their way. Bottom line was my failure. ... Rita's own spirit hovered over the troubled waters of Legitimity. Being aware of the lower self only. All your dreams are on their way “See how they shine, If you need a friend I'm sailing right behind.” Paul says look, hang on, and if you need me I will be there for you. There is no reason to paint this song as something other than what it is. However, the song does not refer to a drug user's hypodermic needle, as is sometimes claimed by some. “Everywhere I went led to somewhere I didn’t want to be.”. to true Life. we have a dormant Higher Self or Divine spark ("Savior") I will ease your mind To function as a bridge and connect two points. My way of saying thank you was: ‘Are you sure? "Bridge over Troubled Water" is a song composed by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only. is always dwelling just "above" these troubled waters, There have been many covers over the years, including: - Aretha Franklin (reached number six in the US), - Artists for Grenfell - artists including Stormzy, Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Rita Ora and Emeli Sandé recorded a cover which went to number one in the UK in 2017, to raise money for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, - 'A Bridge Over You - a charity single recorded by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, was a mashup of 'Bridge over Troubled Water' and Coldplay's 'Fix You', become the UK Christmas number one in 2015, The Story of... 'Everything I Do (I Do it For You)' by, The Story of... 'When the Going Gets Tough', as told by, Phil Collins sends Donald Trump a cease and desist order, after ‘In The Air Tonight’ is played at rally, Elton John settles £3 million court dispute with ex-wife, Elton John speaks out on Rod Stewart's feud claims with, Whoopi Goldberg is planning to revive Sister Act for a. This song represents my relation ship with my first wife. Paul Simon shares the back story behind writing the Simon & Garfunkel classic, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: Paul Simon: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is inspired by two different sources, both of which are not too far away from Elvis Presley. You will receive a verification email shortly. The "I" is the drug, a bridge over troubled waters. Simple yet complex. Download 'I Can't Help Myself' on iTunes, 10 June 2020, 16:02 | Updated: 10 June 2020, 16:08. She committed suicide on August 28, 19993. And sang it live at their shows. Then we get to verse 3, “Sail on silver girl, sail on by. are all ONE once this inner Light is turned on, though in essence As she begins her journey toward paradise, as promised, the good friend is by her side, and he joyously helps console her as her spirit begins to flow, "Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by. He was about fourteen or fifeteen at the time (so was I). artist: "Simon & Garfunkel", Lay me down refers to laying down ones life for their country in defense of freedom. Americans always want a clean happy ending with no loose ends so I can only guess that we are not going to agree on this but this is my two cents worth. The lower earth-bound "mind" is the source of all sorrow. You are hooked and have no choice but to think and try to interpret the meaning. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Meaning of. He, after all, lived on an island with these same Heroin addicts and the homeless and wasn't blind to society's problems there or even around the world at the time. In and around the heart of the lyric are allusions to the other friend being willing to step up and face the end with the soon to pass friend, while referencing that not many friends would rise to such occasion. I don’t remember him having a hard time with my grace. When you're weary I read and appreciated all of the posts, Paul Simon is just so great that any discussion of his work is fun. 'Bridge over Troubled Water' was composed by Paul Simon, and was included on the 1970 album of the same name, which proved to be their fifth and final LP. I think that as we change as people the meaning of life changes and that goes for songs to. I don't think Simon's ever admitted it, but it's clearly a hymn to cannabis. Cannabis is emerging from its reefer-madness bad rep. Why shouldn't it have it's own hymn? ‘When you’re weary/Feeling small/When tears are in your eyes/I will dry them all.’ He especially liked how the melody to the second couplet echoed one of his favourite Bach chorales. become "smooth sailing" from here on out. Therefore, when you need a "friend" your inner LIGHT is always there ... always traveling with you. Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, the song was released as the follow-up single to "The Boxer" in January 1970.The song is featured on their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). In your darkest moments when there's no one around to help there is help. I will lay me down Bridge Over Troubled Water, a beautiful song by Simon and Garfunkel. Jermaine Jackson did a wonderful solo rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" on one of the earlier Jackson Five albums. All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. "I'm on your side. in the person of one's "Higher" Consciousness ... What was a sensitive singer-songwriter like Paul Simon to do but dig deep for some words of solace? He said: "He felt I should have done it, and many times on a stage, though, when I'd be sitting off to the side and Larry Knechtel would be playing the piano and Artie would be singing 'Bridge', people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think, 'That's my song, man...'.". Trying to interpret what a song means is like trying to interpret someone else’s painting – people will see different things. I found many of these posts interesting. which is awaiting our realization. Who really knows what was going through Paul’s mind when BOTW was written. A situation, circumstance, or experience that is fraught with disorder, difficulty, confusion, stress, etc. “And every time, I get a little visitation of the power of a great song. When you're down and out Simon wanted a gospel piano sound, and so hired session musician Larry Knechtel. When tears are in your eyes adunit_id: 100001411, She suffered from severe depression and was bi-poplar. The "silver girl" line is a referance to one of Paul Simon's girlfriends who was upset about finding gray in her hair and is in fact a joke written into the lyrics for that girl. After two months, the song was finally finished. speaking, all people who are on this bridge are known as "virgins" (in the main religions of the world) ... "virgins" because they have a new life altogether now and are "pure" because of their Higher understanding. sea that cannot rest. But it soon became apparent that Simon’s two-verse song wasn’t quite finished. Joe Osborn played two bass guitars, one high and one low. knowledge among the ancient wisdom writings of the world. Feeling lost. This popular misinterpretation of BOTW was started by Wilson Bryant Key in 1976. Paul Simon wrote the song on guitar at first, but later transposed it to the piano to reflect the gospel influence and better suit Art Garfunkel's voice. The bridge is usually a representative of a person a friend or loved one. Perhaps Paul had a friend or family member who was going through something very bad in their lives. Or so he thought. When that sacred time approaches, the friend proclaims: "I'll take your part, when darkness comes, and pain is all around." Paul Simon told his partner,Art Garfunkel, that Garfunkel should sing the song alone, the "white choirboy way", although Simon adds harmony on the final verse. I read the part "when friends can't be found" to mean there is nobody who cares for that particular person who is alone in the whole world. 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.”, Garfunkel says: “We’re strong in our musical opinions, and we’ve had lots of differences, but we’ve remained pretty damned gentlemanly all the way.”, “I’ve sung it 6,400 times,” he adds. This masterful lyric portrays two older friends; one of which is fatally ill and suffering. I'll take your part It's a declairation of friendship, nothing more explicit than that. Your time has come to shine. var opts = { Feeling small It was certified gold for over one million copies in the US, and the song has sold over six million copies worldwide, making it among the best-selling singles ever. 6am - 10am, I Can't Help Myself You have to have knowledge to understand how simple yet profound It is. When you're on the street Spirituals often have dual meanings and functions. As for BOTW if anyone is interested, this is my take on the song. bridge over phrase. © is all about shooting up, but it's very subtle, if it's true at all. The bridge is the deception that they are friends. And many times I’m sorry I didn’t do it.”, Today Garfunkel remembers it differently: “When Paul showed me Bridge Over Troubled Water, he did say it was for me. "ABC" I believe. Because you sound lovely singing it, and it’s almost like you could do it…’, “Now, the famous story is that he took offence and that became a thorn between us, as if I was rejecting the song. })(); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I was on a religious retreat in eighth grade when one of the nuns played this for us. I play this song when faced with challenges and it always inspires me. My husband dedicated it to me just before we got married, he actually would sing it to me to lift my spirits. I definitely think this song is about Jesus. The parents were right behind them to comfort with loving support, by thinking out of the box for guidance and strength in the mindset of what Jesus has done as a sacrifice for all of us a long time ago to give us strenght to endure the pain of laying down for the loved one[s] to cross over the ''Bridge Over Troubled Water''.