A 1970 piano-led ballad by Simon and Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon and sung by Art Garfunkel, drawing on gospel and soul vocal traditions.
Composition
Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Paul Simon in 1969. Simon has cited a line from the gospel song “Mary Don’t You Weep” as an inspiration. The arrangement, produced with Roy Halee, was built around Larry Knechtel’s piano part.
Recording
Art Garfunkel sings lead, and the song’s final stanza opens into a fuller arrangement with strings and drums. Simon recalled offering the song to Garfunkel and later expressing some regret that he did not sing it himself.
Reception
The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1970 and held the position for six weeks. It won five Grammy Awards at the 1971 ceremony, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
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Bridge Over Troubled Water starts with B and ends with R. Browse other songs along the same letter.
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