When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooo)
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

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
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 04:51

"Bridge over Troubled Water" as written by Paul Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Bridge Over Troubled Water song meanings
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73 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation:When you're going through a very dark time and you're emotionally exhausted and alone, a place where no friends or real support can be found.

    'In between' living your old life with unhealthy, uncaring people, and wanting to move into a happier, healthier existence and away from those people you love but are sadly incapable of making that change ( sometimes everyone we know)... that's where you find the love, strength, belief and faith in yourself that you can make it.

    Trusting that there is a force that loves you, hears you and can help you find the courage and faith in yourself carries you from the darkness and into the light ~ your light and your dreams. That force is the bridge - call it what you will...It could be God, or love or energy or 'the force!' but it is something real.

    You are loved and supported even when you are alone and in the dark. For the brave, miracles happen there.

    Beautiful, inspired lyrics.
    Flag archetypeson February 24, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:songfacts.com/…
    In this article with quotes from Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon said that "Silver Girl" referred to his girlfriend who had found a gray hair.
    Flag DLWhittenon January 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Well, I'm not gonna get a lot of love here, but I do love this song. For me I can only hear one story - this is a pusher taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman. In the late 60s and early 70s a Silver Girl was a loaded needle and once you sailed with it, all your troubles were gone and your dreams were on their way. The pusher is one step behind her, getting high with her.
    A stunning work of art.
    Flag Skipy2Shoson December 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song, Paul Simon is just perfection! The way I see it, the lyrics are saying how the writer would lay himself down to make his friend happy by using the literal imagery of a bridge. He'll let his friend literally "walk all over" him to make them feel better. The use of the bridge imagery kinda refers to how Paul laying down would help get the troubled friend from one place to another during their hard time (trouble water). Amazing really!
    Flagged rossg257on September 25, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:yall need to look at the people in this world closer and not pass them by with no glance. sometime you'll change or save a life. just say something positive and it makes all the difference if its been a hard day.

    Or it could be your special loved one. goodnight all. Love ya.
    Flag Ahourstoryon September 18, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:Gods hand is in this song, in listening to this and reading to the above lyrics at the same time - i had an epiphany - this is God in our lives...

    the agopy love he extends, no matter what the circumstances sets the example for how we are to live with our loved ones and fellow man.

    now it is a love song, but extends very much further into how this love should transcend to all..
    Flagged just4davidon December 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I am a divorced father of 3 daughters ages 22, 20,and 17.
    They live with their mother who has cirosis of the liver and is dieing as she is still drinking and smoking. They are forced with the task of looking after her and slowly watching her die. The three of them basically run the entire house and make adult decisions nobody should have to do.I am not welcome in the house and havent been for 10 years. So the only things that get fixed or replaced or built is if I am snuck into the house, My ex has some severe psychotic issues and my kids are dealing with the death of their mother everyday.... rather morbid.

    Now getting to the song Bridge over troubled water (which was written by a genius I might add). I had heard and known of the song since the 70s. As I was watching Art Garfunkel perform this masterpiece on youTube. It was as if God had had that song written for me and my daughters confirming through all the ugliness and pain, I would be there for them giving them the best advise and promises,and all the good things life has to offer, is theirs for the taking. All the things bottled up inside me watching my daughters live in a present day hell. After I sat here and cried in sadness, I then sent all 3 of them the song........ which speaks volumes of advice and companionship, positive, loving kind words that a only a father can feel for his daughters.... One things for sure, They are not alone and I shall live long enough to see them through this untimely disease and horrid mental complications which has changed her for the worse. Losing a mother is a horrible thing. I'm sure if we all get through this together, I will have 3 very very extraordinary young daughters... Thanks for listening..... Lonny
    Flagged lonnykon November 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:HAs anybody heard ROBERTA FLACKs version of this song ? It will electrify you it is a staggering vocal performance that transforms a great song into an immortal one. Slow and gospelly start with just her and piano. Then when she gets to the "Silver girl" section she enters a heavanly dimension the intensity is overwhelming especially the way she draws out "see how they shine, if you need a friend im sailing right behind" thats the core lyric as well. If you ever love someboday uncoditionally give them this version of this song but you have to mean it, especially "when times get rough". Interesting that that last phrase is borrowed by Peter Gabriel in "Dont Gove Up" a cousin song to this if ever there was one.
    Flagged sdevwevon October 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song has so much meaning for me. I lost mu husband in June of this year after an extended illness. We have sworn to follow each other into Heaven where God has promised we will be together for all eternity. I know it will not be long before I follow my husband there-the Lord has told me that and my husband is still with me-holding me all the way with the Lord in peace, content and serenity. What this song does for me is to remind that when I get down from riding out the wait til I reach my husband and Lord they are both here with me-Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters and every time I hear it I crumble. The Lord and my husband send me little "reminders" each day to comfort me so that I will know they will bring me home to them and each of them just like this song means the world to me. I am truly blessed and this song is in itself a part of that blessing that is mine and my husband's granted to us by the Lord our Savior.
    Flagged Willsangel4everon October 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:TRUE, SIMON & GARFUNKEL MAY BE JEWISH, BUT THEY DO HAVE JESUS' NAME IN THE LYRICS OF THE "MRS. ROBINSON" SONG: "JESUS LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL KNOW". JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE JEWISH, DOESN'T MEAN THAT NONE OF THEIR SONGS COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE A JESUS THEME TO IT. PERHAPS SOME SONGS DO, AND SOME SONGS DON'T.

    IT ALL DEPENDS HOW YOU, THE LISTENER, INTERPRET THE SONG. I BELIEVE EACH AND EVERY PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION OF A PARTICULAR SONG THAN THE NEXT PERSON. THERE'S NO ONE WRONG OR RIGHT SONG INTERPRETATION FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE HAVE MANY MANY DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT A PARTICULAR SONG. WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU, MAY OR MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE RIGHT FOR OTHERS. IT ALL DEPENDS HOW "YOU" SEE THIS SONG. AND I WELCOME EVERYBODY'S INTERPRETATIONS, I'M COOL WITH IT.
    Flag CHARLIE64on July 25, 2011   Link

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