Bridge Over Troubled Water Lyrics

When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. 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.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains 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 silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
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.
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Paul Simon
Producer
Roy Halee, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel
Release date
Jan 26, 1970
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
kevin On May 21, 2001
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

88 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

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.

My Interpretation

@archetypes Brilliant+

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Well, First of all. NO DRUGS! I am not an orgirnall fan, as in i wasnt born when they wrote this song. but i did have a tape of there greatest hits and i wore it out let me tell ya. but this song i have always loved. just hearing it a few minutes ago and really paying attention to the words made me think. ( i am not trying to preach or anything but) like shunammite kind a touched on. i really think this song is about one man who did lay his life down for us. Jesus.. listen to the words. It could be about a friend but with the line "When friends just can't be found" i really think it is mentioning somone else. jesus died for our sins, he laid down his life for us. he is there always for us, when we are moving right on by. Also in the 2nd "I will comfort you. I'll take your part." jesus took away our sins when he died for us. he took are place up there. But untill right before i posted this. i also thought it was a song about a dear friend (which i have used many times to help ppl) it sounds a little depressing, but it is a really nice and pleasent song.

yeah, you are an utter moron and obviously don't know a single thing about simon or garfunkel... its def. not about jesus you prick. both of them are JEWISH, you dolt.

you don't have to be jesus to simply be a friend that will always be there for you. GOD.

Not Valid

wow, even if that is all true, no need to act like a five year old and call people names for not getting the same message as you. the great thing about this song is that it can mean alot of different things. this song could be about friendship and being there for one another, it could be about drugs (even though many seem to think that its not, but "silver girl" was a reffrence that heroine users used during the 1960's and 70's) you cant deny that, its a fact. it could also be about God, this song was...

Not Valid

The beauty about art is that anyone is free to interpret their own meaning into what they se/hear ... the only morons are the ones who don't understand that!

My own interpretation could also be about relationship God has to us ... Or a parent assuring her child, that she will be there for her also in hard times!

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

The singer is telling us (the listener) he will get us thru the hard times we all have. Its about hope and transformation.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

I agree...this song has been viewed so many times, but not a single comment has been made. This week, our high school choir did a version of this song arranged by Kirby Shaw. It was amazing. 2 of my good friends had solos for the second and third verses. It was absolutely beautiful, and they recieved a standing ovation. This song is so powerful and beautiful. This is how I feel about my best friend - I would do anything for her...no matter what she needs and I know she would do the same for me. I guess that's what having a best friend is all about.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

I love this song. I don't know if anyone's said it or if it's completely obvious but I like to think the "I will lay me down" means that he would physically lay himself down as a bridge to you to help you get over this rough patch of your life. Like, he would sacrifice himself. I like what one of the earlier comments said about how it's like we're Christ for each other--we would sacrifice ourselves for a friend.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Those who say that because Simon and Garfunkel are both Jewish, and therefore this song can't possibly be about Jesus, don't know, obviously, that on their first album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.", they sang a very stirring rendition of "Go, Tell it on the Mountain"...a Christmas song! They also did "Silent Night/7 O'clock News" and a real gospel song called "You Can Tell the World" very convincingly, on other albums. God uses whoever He will for His purposes. It is entirely possible, and my absolute total belief and opinion that this song is Divinely inspired. I believe that God gave this song to Paul Simon, and that the song in its entirety is a message from God, through Simon and Garfunkel, to us. I believe they are the channel He used to speak to us. My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter!

My Opinion

I forgot to mention "Blessed", their rendition of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. More Jesus references!!

Not Valid

@WayneK This song is about, and sung by heroin. Heroin is telling the user how it promises to anesthetize their pain, and loneliness.it promises to be EVERYTHING to the user. This is heroin's seduction. And why it is so attractive and quickly addictive. It promises to be there even when they die, silver girl, I'm sailing with you. This is one of the best songs sung BY the voice of a dangerous drug. My favorite, as far as this concept goes is 'Sin Sin Sin"- Robbie Williams

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

This must be considered for top 5 songs of all time. Beautiful meaning and sound. I love to give this song a listen when I'm in a sad mood.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

when i first heard this song i didnt listen to the words, and based on the melody i fealt it as kind of a depressing song, and when it said "i will lay me down" i thought of kind of giving up. then i listened to the words and found the lyrics and it was not that at all...one of the best songs ever written, simple, but amazing. so moving. it can relate to everyone.

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

Passionate and powerful song!

Cover art for Bridge Over Troubled Water lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel

I can't believe that in almost a YEAR, no one has written a comment on this amazing song about friendship and togetherness. This song epitomizes why we have friends... Because the real friends stick around when times are dark while the others scatter for a better view.

This is about two people; a man and woman who start as friends.....very close friends and things evolve into a deeper romantic soul-mate relationship. The (he) person is there for her, as she grows and evolves and eventually the relationship flickers to an ember however, as she starts to move on in her life, (she is younger than he and has yet to season with life's joys, triumphs and tragedies, he will always be her bridge over troubled water, then, now and forever. Waiting for her at the other end of the bridge on the other side, when...

Not Valid

Yeah, that's what I thought of the song as well.

Not Valid

I mean maxpower114's interpretation summed it up perfectly.

Not Valid