'Bridge over Troubled Water' was composed by Paul Simon very quickly, so much so that he asked himself, ‘Where did that come from? It doesn't seem like me.’ The title lyric was inspired by Claude Jeter’s line, ‘I'll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in me,’ which Jeter sang with his group, the ‘Swan Silvertones (a Gospel group) in their 1958 song entitled, ‘Mary don’t you weep.’ Sources seem to suggest that the title means ‘I’ll be your friend during troubled times; trust in me'.
When one thinks about it, that is essentially the role that a true friend plays; in times of trouble they do become our bridge taking us from one place to another; helping us get through one day to another and across all manner of difficulties. This essential role is also enacted by loving parents and guardians providing oversight over their charges, along with good teachers in our lives who help us navigate choppy waters by sailing behind us at a safe distance to ensure we reach our learning destination and don't finish up sunk and at the bottom of the bay.
Love and peace. Bill xxx