THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

71-Simon & Garfunkel-Bridge over Troubled Water.

1970-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.20. The third and final verse which starts with the line ‘Sail on silver bird,’ was inspired by Paul Simon’s future wife Peggy Harper on finding out she had a few grey hairs beginning to appear, which was upsetting her. Simon used to tease her by calling her ‘Silver girl.’ For many years ‘conspiracy theorists’ thought the line referred to a drug abuser’s hypodermic needle, meaning the song is about Heroin.

Paul Frederic Simon was born on October 13th 1941, in Newark, New Jersey, New York, United States, and Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born on November 5th, 1941, in New York City, New York, United States. The discography of Simon & Garfunkel includes five studio Albums released between 1964-1970, and 26 singles issued between 1957-1992, of which 16 made the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40 in America, with two of those reaching Number 1. While in the UK they have charted in the top 40 on eight occasions, with this song being their only chart topper.

‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ was written by Paul Simon, with the first two verses sung by Art Garfunkel, with Simon joining in on the third, it was produced Roy Halee who was a long time collaborator with the duo. The song is also the title track to Simon & Garfunkel’s (see also best songs 529-200 and 96) fifth and final studio Album released in 1970, and was the second of four singles taken from it.

Paul Simon composed ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ in early 1969, he has said that the song came to him very quickly, so much so that he asked himself,’Where did that come from? It doesn’t seem like me.’ The songs title was inspired by an ad-lib line from the American Gospel singer Claude Jeter, (1914-2009) whom Simon had heard singing on the 1959 ‘Spiritual’ song ‘Mama Don’t You Weep,’ with his group the ‘Swan Silvertones.’ Jeter sang the line ‘I’ll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in my name,’ (at 2.10 seconds into the song.) Paul Simon recognised the inspiration by giving Jeter a cheque for $1,000 as royalties. Jeter would also go on to work with Simon, providing the falsetto background vocal on Simon’s 1973 song ‘Take Me to the Mardi Gras.’

The songs vocals and music production was modelled on Phil Spector’s arrangement of The Righteous Brothers (see also best songs 782 and 91) rendition of ‘Old Man River,’ where Spector (1939-2021) (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-192-127-91 and 20) had kept it mainly piano through most of the song, but had it end with a flourish of instruments. This songs musicians did in fact include members of the ‘Wrecking Crew,’ such as Hal Blaine, (1929-2019) and Larry Knechtel, (1940-2009) who had also performed on Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ productions previously. Initially Paul Simon told Art Garfunkel that he should sing the song alone, which in later years he came to regret, as he saw the song as his baby, and he has admitted to being jealous when seeing Garfunkel receive standing ovations in concerts. Simon of course does duet with Garfunkel on the songs third and final verse, which was added after Simon’s decision to let Garfunkel perform the vocals alone.

‘Bridge over Troubled Water has been covered on numerous occasions. In 1970 Elvis Presley recorded the song for his Album ‘That’s the Way It Is,’ Simon has said that he was honoured that Presley sang one of his songs. Perhaps Aretha Franklin’s Gospel inspired version is the one truest to how Simon originally envisaged it sounding, Franklin’s version peaked at Number 6 on Billboard in 1971. I would also recommend the 10 minute ‘Disco’ version by Linda Clifford, which reached Number 28 in the UK in 1979. ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ became a UK Number 1 for a second time in 2017. In order to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, a charity record was released which featured many of the current crop of Pop stars at that time.

‘Sail on silver girl, sail on by, your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way, see how they shine.’