Songwriter: Paul Simon

Producer: Jerry Wexler Arif Mardin Tom Dowd

[Intro]
(Don't trouble the water)
I won't (leave it alone)
(Why don't you, why don't you, let it be?)
Um hum hum
(Still water run deep... yes it do)
I know that
(Whoa-o-o-yeah)
If you only believe
(Don't trouble the water)
Said I wouldn't (leave it alone)
(Why don't you, why don't you, let it be?)
Umm (still water run deep)
Yes it do
(Yes it do whoa-oh-ho yeah), if you only believe

[Verse 1]
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, is all around

[Chorus]
Just like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
(Like a bridge)
Just like a bridge
(Over troubled) over troubled water
I will lay me down

[Verse 2]
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All of your dreams are on their way
(See how they shine?)
Ooooh and if you ever need a friend
(Need a friend)
Look around, I'm sailing right behind

[Chorus]
Just like a bridge
(Bridge (over) over (troubled) water
I'll be there to lay me down
(Like a bridge)
Like a bridge over (troubled water) troubled water
I will lay me down
Ooooh I'll be your bridge
Yes I will

[Bridge]
(Don't trouble the water)
Said I wouldn't
(Leave it alone)
Well (why don't you, why don't you, let it be?)
Uh-huh (still water run deep)
I know that
(Yes it do) yeah (oh-oh-oh yeah)
Still water (don't trouble the water)
Yeah
(Leave it alone, why don't you, why don't you, let it be)
Talking bout still water
(Still water run deep)
You know they run deep
(Yes it do) uh-huh (oh-ho-ho-yeah)
Well I'm gonna be your bridge yeah!
(Don't trouble the water)
The troubled water (leave it alone)
Oh!

[Outro]
(Why don't you, why don't you, let it be?)
Come on come on
Walk out on me
(Still water run deep)
Oh
(Yes it do)...

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.