Bridge Over Troubled Water

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, two Jewish boys from Queens who met in a school production of Alice in Wonderland, released Bridge Over Troubled Water as the title track of their final studio album in 1970. It spent six weeks at number one in America and three in Britain, and won five Grammys. The lyric is a vow to lay oneself down for another person when times get hard, and the slow gospel piano, played by Larry Knechtel, gives a first dance the feel of a hymn. Simon suggested that Garfunkel sing it alone, and only later regretted handing over the song that gave Garfunkel his soaring final verse.