The Lies Lies Lies of Simon and Garfunkel

The album “Bridge over Troubled Waters” is high up on The Rolling Stone Top 500 albums. It has hits, including the biggest hit of their career, which was the title track. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was a Top 10 song and other artists covered it right away. It should’ve been the best of times for the duo.

Simon and Garfunkel started in the 1950s as a duo but they promptly broke up. They reunited and struggled until they had a big hit with “Sounds of Silence.” At a time when garage rock was running out, psychedelic music became big and The Who got loud, this song by two folk singers became huge.

They never really changed their style. They added orchestras or a drum, but they stayed loyal to the two voices in harmony.

At the time of this album, things between them were strained. Paul felt he was the star. Art was branching out into movies. The movie schedule would cause delays in recording. Paul didn’t waste time so he planned out arrangements and wrote more songs while Art was away.

Now it makes sense why they used “Bridge over Troubled Water” as the album title. Musically, they were never better. The album also has “Cecilia” and El Condor Pasa (which is never actually said in the song). It also had “The Boxer.” I’ve always misheard lyrics to the song. I always thought they sing “by the light” by the light, light light la la light. Lyric sheets I’ve seen say it was actually lie lie lie.

The song isn’t about seeing a light. Fighting alone in the light. It’s about it all being lies. Fighting against lies.

The sound on the album was a lie. They weren’t in harmony. They were coming apart. They were over troubled waters. Those waters swallowed the duo. There was no bridge to save them.

I see “The Boxer” in a new way. The other songs are still incredible lyrically and sonically. It’s not an overall sad album. It can be enjoyed even with knowledge of the behind the scenes.