Music of the Day, 31 January 2025

see how they shine

For various reasons, I’ve been thinking some heavy thoughts lately, which I didn’t want to get in to in this space. But when a song—which I think might be the first song that made me cry—started playing on the radio station in my mind in the wee hours of the morning, I knew it was some of those thoughts pushing to be given voice.

I don’t want to do it, though. I’ve opined here aplenty about being a sucker for romantic songs despite knowing their falsity, and I know I’m far from alone in both those states. There isn’t a fresh angle or new insight to be found … yet here I am. Such is the power of this extraordinary, international chart-topping 1970 hit.

I was very surprised to discover that this is legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel’s (S&G) debut in this space. I hope my choice is some recompense for their absence. “Bridge over Troubled Water” is consistently in my top five S&G songs but is usually behind at least one other; yet none of them matches its songcraft and intensity.

Researching it today, I learned that Paul Simon wrote it and suggested that Art Garfunkel sing the lead vocals alone. The tenderness and power of his voice serve the lyrics well; and the music both puts “Bridge” over the top and keeps it from getting schmaltzy. Three members of the Wrecking Crew are responsible: Hal Blaine’s drumming; Larry Knechtel on the piano; and Joe Osborn on bass. Blaine and Osborn’s contributions are more subtle but invaluable in adding depth to the sound. Ending with the extended strings is like the closing of a hymn.

To me, “Bridge” is as much about steadfast friendship as it is romantic love … it’s the former that has been part of my heavy thinking. It seems to me that a lot of the breakdown of community in mainstream American culture has roots in the decline in enduring friendships. We’re so mobile and focused on online gathering places that the physical realm seems almost an afterthought.

And it’s easy to get caught up in immediate concerns and thereby forget to check in with friends … I’m embarrassed to think about the friendships I let slip away that way. It’s as if too many of us treat our communities as if they were mere hotel rooms: convenient when needed but not important enough to invest care in other than as a return on investment, and left with little regret when we can afford¹ the next step up.

Bah. I’m a wittering fool today, filled with tears for many memories that “Bridge over Trouble Water” brings to mind. Even so, it’s a gorgeous song that I will never tire of hearing.

1. more likely finagled on paper and involving significant debt than truly comfortably covering the costs