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 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
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
- Paul Simon wrote this song about providing comfort to a person in need. It started out as a modest Gospel hymn but became more dramatic as he put it together.
- Art Garfunkel sang this alone on the album, although he thought Simon should have sung it. Says Simon, Many times I’m sorry I didn’t do it.
- Clive Davis at Columbia Records is the one who heard the commercial appeal of the song, and insisted they market it like crazy and use it as the album title.
- This song was included on the 2001 Columbia Records benefit CD, God Bless America. Proceeds from the disc went to the Twin Towers Fund.
- The first time this song was broadcast on TV was a special called Songs of America. Clay Aiken released this as his first single right after the show.
- Bridge Over Troubled Water was the last album Simon & Garfunkel released before they split up. It is the biggest selling album ever for Columbia Records.
See what happens when I visit YouTube. I haven’t watched the following video for a long time. It is almost 11 years old, but it shows a young man with an amazing talent.
This is one of Clay Aiken’s signature songs.
Many people have said it is the best performance ever on American Idol!
I could hear Clay sing this song anytime!
How about you?
Clay could sing the alphabet or the Phone Book and it would sound great! BOTW is one of his all time bests though!
Interesting facts- thanks for sharing and keeping us updated on what he is up to!
Amen, KlovesClay! Totally agree, he could sing either the Alphabet/Phone Book and make it sound HAWT! He could also sing ANY song & make all of his swarms of female fans do a major *THUD* I know that EVERY time I listen to BOTW (Live or CD) I get MAJOR chills @ the end. He'll knock it out of the park EVERY time!!!!
One of my all time favorite performances that Clay performed on AI. His passion was so awesome! I can listen and watch him sing this song every week! He HAD the win with it. Sadly, the phones were just too clogged up!
I could not resist. I had to listen. One song I never get tired of listening (from Clay)!
I totally agree that is one of the best performances on Idol ever! The beautiful song with Clay’s clear, soaring voice and it doesn’t get any better.
Magnificent performance that night 10 years ago and on his
return this past spring another magnificent performance !!
Their are no words to describe the beautiful performance of BOTW the night that Clay sang it.
It is beyond comprehension how anyone could be happy to lose all that talent to politics, imo.
I sincerely hope that in time, Clay will return to the music world with the incomparable golden voice
he is gifted with.
Thank you so much for this beautiful blog. The title is perfect for today!!
Yes…this song is a gem when sung by Clay. I have to think I will hear Clay sing it again sometime..
I am proud of Clay for running for office, but I just think he will come back to music and sing to us again! Of course, maybe that is wishful thinking!!
I loved this song when Simon & Garfunkel did it way back when. It was like a brand new song when Clay sang it. So beautiful it makes you want to cry. The best performance on AI ever!
I still get chills listening to that performance!! It certainly is the best one ever to come out of that show. I get sad thinking about politics vs. singing to us. Don't want that perfect voice lost to us.
Every single word in that beautiful, inspirational song (especially) sung by Clay can be applied to
the decision that he is making right now – to use his voice, heart, and mind – to help others in
whatever way he can!! We need his word to make it a fact and hopefully that word will be out soon!
indeed bridge over troubled waters is a gem when clay sings it i dint like the way simon and garfunkel sang it cause it was to slow but like i said when clay sings it its indeed a gem its a verry moving hart felt insperatinial song it was a newsonjg for clay i also get sad when i think about clay and politics vs his singing to us all i dont want that amazingv voice of clay lost to us
Love the spot on power vocals. There's a gem.