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When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, all
I'm on your side, oh, 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, oh, 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
Oh, 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
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, all
I'm on your side, oh, 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, oh, 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
Oh, 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
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This is about being in a relationship/marriage and acknowledging that the magic has long since vanished.
"this is a song that was my favorite song for quite some time. it's from our last LP, the "bookends" album. it's about a point in a relationship when two people realize it's over, and yet neither has any place to go from there. it's called overs." -paul simon in concert
one of my favorite S&G songs of all time. the guitar is great. paul is great.
Actually, it was Garfunkel who did all the talking when the duo did concerts.
@howtobegood It was Garfunkel who did the talking at this and other performances.
The voices are both singing solo verses here, which is relatively strange for S&G, but works very well. One of their most poetic songs, and to think a man who was only in his 20s wrote it. Constant refs to time, and I love 'No good times, no bad times There's no times at all just the NY Times' Very clever and meaningful lyrics all through, and it kind of starts and ends with the word 'Over' but in different ways. Melancholy at its best.
The whole song is a circle: notice "the game is over" line and "I stop and think it over", different meanings for over; as an end and as a start. The whole song is about a dead love, the person knows that, totally, but the end shows a bit of denial towards the end of the relationship. I feel bad in some way because I remember showing this song to a friend who was just separated from her husband. A week later, she divorced the guy. Sometimes I think if it was the song that had to do on her decision. :-S
I think it's interesting to compare this song with one that Simon wrote thirteen years later–"Train in the Distance"–about the failure of his marriage to Peggy Harper.
This song made me finalize the decision to break up with my boyfriend.
this song literally ends in saying i'm not going to break up with you