Music in 1970: The Album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel
The cover of the Simon and Garfunkel album that contains the number one single Bridge Over Troubled Water
Review
The album tells ordinary everyday stories which happen to people in their daily lives. It is an observation of life, from one’s place in the world to customer service and living in the modern world during the late 1960s. It observes life and comments rather than telling us something.
The album is also to inspire poets amongst us. As in the style of folk, the album expresses stories and tales about real life and the ordinary but does so with a poetic twang that always convinces us the album is poetry in motion.
The song Bridge Over Troubled Water is rather extraordinary and goes beyond all that. Bridge Over Troubled Water is an iconic tune. It has been covered over fifty times, maybe hundreds, and is a song that connects to our human condition. It is the “Lean on Me” of Simon and Garfunkel songs.
The song soars on its own power and merits, along with the song The Boxer, while the rest of the album pales in comparison. This is not an album where I favour every song, in fact most of the songs are quite musically flat to my ear. I still appreciate them for what they are worth, perhaps not quite enough, though. This music overall is respectable but not quite reaching the emotional heights.
However, the title song hits the emotional notes from start to finish, and even elevates one. The song echoes a universal truth through the ages and even in eternity and is true to the heart. It speaks to our need for comfort in an ever-changing world. When all falls apart there is someone we can turn to in our time of need. They will provide the pillow to lay the head, they will ease the weary mind. They will come around when others don’t, to be a consoling voice.
Christian Perspective
The song speaks about how there is a bridge over troubled waters, the bridge is soothing one during difficulty or trial. It’s a universal song and has religious application. However, it may be a too-good of an ideal as sometimes we are left squandering—it’s then that we can reach out to Jesus. The Lord Jesus may have something in mind to sooth the road ahead. The Bible describes Jesus as a comforter. We know in people’s experiences Jesus can be a comfort to those in need. Christian artists have covered the song to say that Jesus is the bridge over the troubled soul, and this indeed resonates.
Produced by Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel.
© 2024 Peter Veugelaers
