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The Bridge Lyrics
Elton John - The Bridge (John/Taupin)
Album: The Captain And The Kid (2006)
I've seen the bridge and the bridge is long
And they built it high and they built it strong
Strong enough to hold the weight of time
Long enough to leave some of us behind
Chorus:
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
Standing on the bridge looking at the waves
Seen so many jump, never seen one saved
On a distant beach your song can die
On a bitter wind, on a cruel tide
Chorus:
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
And the bridge it shines
Oh cold hard iron
Saying come and risk it all
Or die trying
Chorus:
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
Has to cross the bridge or fade away...
Album: The Captain And The Kid (2006)
And they built it high and they built it strong
Strong enough to hold the weight of time
Long enough to leave some of us behind
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
Seen so many jump, never seen one saved
On a distant beach your song can die
On a bitter wind, on a cruel tide
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
Oh cold hard iron
Saying come and risk it all
Or die trying
And every one of us has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away
And every one of us that ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge or fade away
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I agree with silverprod. I heard this song on an airplane, and my ears were popped, so i couldn't hear too well, but i looked for this song only because I thought it was so inspirational. I think I've come to that bridge many times, but it's always been for the same reason, always returning to haunt me. That's why this song means so much to me.
I believe this refers to page 57 in the alcoholics, anonymous big book which speaks of crossing the bridge of reason in order to gain faith and recover. I respect Elton’s sobriety.!
This is my favorite Elton John song. Bernie Taupin is a complex lyricist. I believe the bridge, in this song, is a metaphor for the Hot 100, specifically Elton's presence on said chart. Here is the lyrical giveaway:
"Standing on the bridge, looking at the waves Seen so many jump, never seen one saved On a distant beach your SONG can die On a bitter wind, on a cruel tide"
"Border Song", Elton's first charted song, is a rare exception. It debuted at 93, peaked the next week at 92, dropped off for 2 weeks then back on the chart but for only 3 weeks. It jumped, climbed back on the bridge only to plunge back into the cruel tide. Anyway, maybe I'm way off base but this is what I see.
bridge is a metaphor for a single path in life... when given that path do you go all the way or give up before and jump over? there'a s jumble of thoughts in my head but it's something like that...
In an interview Elton and Bernie both said along the lines that it was about making it in the music industry and how you have to cross the bridge to reach fame or fall over like so many and simply return to a boring life.
It can also be applied in general though, as silverprod said, to anything in life where there is a big challenge to face and crossing the bridge results in glory and failing to cross the bridge means being forgotten, fading away.
This song is quite inspirational and means a lot to many people, I'm sure and certain.