Bridge over Troubled Water ( song ) - wikipedia Bridge over Troubled Water ( song ) `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' Single by Simon & Garfunkel from the album Bridge Over Troubled Water B - side `` Keep the Customer Satisfied '' Released January 1970 ( 1970 - 01 ) Format 7 '' Recorded November 9, 1969 Length 4 : 55 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Paul Simon Producer ( s ) Roy Halee Paul Simon Art Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel singles chronology `` The Boxer '' ( 1969 ) `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( 1970 ) `` Cecilia '' ( 1970 ) `` The Boxer '' ( 1969 ) `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( 1970 ) `` Cecilia '' ( 1970 ) Bridge over Troubled Water track listing `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( 1 ) `` El Condor Pasa ( If I Could ) '' ( 2 ) Music video `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( audio ) on YouTube Audio sample file help `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, the song was released as the follow - up single to `` The Boxer '' in January 1970. The song is featured on their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water ( 1970 ). Composed by singer - songwriter Paul Simon, the song is performed on piano and carries the influence of gospel music. The original studio recording employs elements of Phil Spector 's `` Wall of Sound '' technique using L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew. It was the last song recorded for their fifth and final album, but the first fully completed. The song 's instrumentation was recorded in California while the duo 's vocals were cut in New York. Simon felt his partner, Art Garfunkel, should sing the song solo, an invitation Garfunkel initially declined. Session musician Larry Knechtel performs piano on the song, with Joe Osborn playing bass guitar and Hal Blaine closing out the song with drums. The song won five awards at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971, including Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song became Simon & Garfunkel 's biggest hit single, and it is often considered their signature song. It was a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, and it also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and New Zealand. It was a top five hit in eight other countries as well, eventually selling over six million copies worldwide, making it among the best - selling singles. It became one of the most performed songs of the twentieth century, with over 50 artists, among them Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, covering the song. It was ranked number 48 on Rolling Stone 's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Contents 1 Background 2 Commercial performance 3 Awards 4 Covers 4.1 Aretha Franklin 4.2 Elvis Presley 4.3 Linda Clifford 4.4 Cantonese version 4.5 Dami Im version 4.6 Other notable covers 5 Chart performance 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 5.3 Certifications 6 Artists for Grenfell Tower charity single 6.1 Artists 6.1. 1 Vocals 6.1. 2 Instruments 6.2 Charts 7 Notes 7.1 References 7.2 Sources 8 External links Background `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' was composed by Paul Simon very quickly, so much so that he asked himself, `` Where did that come from ? It does n't seem like me. '' The chorus lyrics were partly 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, in the 1958 song `` Mary Do n't You Weep. '' According to gospel producer and historian Anthony Heilbut, Simon later acknowledged his musical debt to Jeter in person, and additionally handed Jeter a check as compensation. Simon wrote the song initially on guitar but decided to transpose it to the piano, to both better reflect the gospel influence and to suit Garfunkel 's voice. When Simon showed the song to his partner, he informed him that he felt Garfunkel should sing it by himself, the `` white choirboy way. '' Garfunkel declined, feeling it was not right for him and believing that Simon should sing it. Garfunkel reportedly liked Simon 's falsetto on the demo and suggested that Simon sing. He and producer Roy Halee also thought the song needed three verses and a ' bigger ' sound toward the end. Simon agreed and penned the final verse, though he felt it was less than fully cohesive with the earlier verses. The final verse was written about Simon 's then - wife Peggy Harper, who had noticed her first gray hairs ( `` Sail on, silvergirl '' ). It does not refer to a drug abuser 's hypodermic needle, as is sometimes claimed. The verse was Garfunkel 's idea, and Simon has never cared for it. `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' was the final track to be recorded but the first one fully completed, with an additional two weeks of post-production. Simon initially composed the song in G major, but arranger and composer Jimmie Haskell transposed the song to E-flat major to suit Garfunkel 's voice. The song was recorded in California, to make it easier for Garfunkel to go to Mexico to film Catch - 22. Simon wanted a gospel piano sound, and so he hired session musician Larry Knechtel. The song was initially two verses long, but Garfunkel felt the song was too short, and asked Knechtel to play a third verse, to which Simon would write more lyrics. Joe Osborn played the two bass guitars, one high and the other low. A horn section rounded off the song. The drums were played by Hal Blaine in an echo chamber to achieve a hall effect and Los Angeles session percussionist Gary Coleman played the vibraphone. Due to a series of factors, the duo had to work on a new tape ; an arranger falsely labeled the song as `` Like a Pitcher of Water '', wrote Garfunkel 's name incorrectly and the string part was unsatisfactory. Simon and Garfunkel then returned to New York to record the vocals. The vocal style in `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' was inspired by Phil Spector 's technique in `` Old Man River '' by The Righteous Brothers. After two months the song was finalized. Simon himself admitted that it sounded like the Beatles ' `` Let It Be '', stating in a Rolling Stone interview : `` They are very similar songs, certainly in instrumentation... '' As their relations frayed preceding their 1970 breakup, Simon began to feel jealous that he allowed Garfunkel to sing it solo : He felt I should have done it, and many times on a stage, though, when I 'd be sitting off to the side and Larry Knechtel would be playing the piano and Artie would be singing `` Bridge '', people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think, `` That 's my song, man... '' Commercial performance Despite the song 's five - minute length, Columbia decided to service the song to pop radio. Bob Dylan had previously landed a song past the three - minute barrier on AM radio with `` Like a Rolling Stone '' in 1965, which played into Columbia 's decision. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' also topped the adult contemporary chart in the US for six weeks. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1970. The song was certified gold for over one million copies in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America, and the song has sold over six million copies worldwide, making it among the best - selling singles. Awards The single won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the Grammy Awards of 1971, with its album also winning several awards in the same year. Covers The song has been covered by over 50 artists, including Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. A cover recorded by Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple for Cash 's American IV : The Man Comes Around album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003. Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin 's gospel - inspired studio - recorded cover version released in March 1971 reached number one on the US R&B chart and number six on the pop chart, and later won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in the 1972 awards. Her live performance of the song at the Grammy Awards was released on the 1994 album Grammy 's Greatest Moments Volume III. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley recorded it in Nashville on June 5, 1970, and it was released on the 1970 album That 's the Way It Is ( with a false audience fade - out ). He included it in his set list for his next engagement in Las Vegas, which included the filming of the 1970 documentary Elvis : That 's the Way It Is, and the song was included in the original theatrical release ( included version is from the August 11 dinner show ). During that summer season in Vegas, Paul Simon attended one of the shows, and, after seeing Elvis perform the song, he was reported to have said, `` That 's it, we might as well all give up now. '' Presley continued to use this song throughout his live performances, including his final live appearance in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977. Another live performance was seen in the Golden Globe - winning documentary Elvis on Tour, filmed at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 14, 1972. Elvis even sang it at one of his Madison Square Garden Shows back in June 1972. On the studio version, Robert Matthew Watson wrote in his book Heartbreak Hotel : `` Presley 's outstanding singing is not disguised. This is a fabulous version, burning with sincerity and power, and finding depths not revealed by the composers. '' Linda Clifford `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' Single by Linda Clifford from the album Let Me Be Your Woman B - side `` Hold Me Close '' Released 1979 Format 7 '' single Genre Disco Length 4 : 08 ( 7 '' version ) 10 : 20 ( Album version ) Label RSO / Curtom Songwriter ( s ) Paul Simon Producer ( s ) Gil Askey Linda Clifford, Curtis Mayfield 's protegee signed on his Curtom label, released an up - tempo disco version of `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' on her album Let Me Be Your Woman in March 1979. This epic version ( 10 : 20 in length ) was produced by Gil Askey ( jazz trumpet player and musical director for many Motown acts ) and mixed by Jimmy Simpson, brother of Valerie Simpson from Ashford and Simpson. The song has two originalities, the first one being a 132 bpm tempo ( considered the ideal tempo for disco dancing ) when the Simon and Garfunkel original is 82 bpm and Aretha Franklin 's cover is 76 bpm. It was the first time that this song was covered with a fast tempo. It also has a highly original `` Brazilian cuica on a disco beat '' break. It became a US disco # 11, pop # 41, R&B # 49 and UK # 28. Cantonese version A rewriting of the song with Cantonese lyrics ( `` Many hearts prevail '' -- zh : 滔滔 千里 心 ) was collectively sung by many Hong Kong singers for public shows in Hong Kong to raise funds after the Eastern China flood of 1991. In 2009 it was also used in the Artistes 88 Fund Raising Campaign for the victims of Typhoon Morakot. Dami Im version Dami Im covered this song during the Family Heroes - themed sixth live show of the fifth season of Australian X Factor on September 29, 2013. Im 's performance of the song debuted at number 15 on the Australian Singles Chart. Im later released a version of the song on her self - titled album, which debuted at number 1 in Australia, and was certified Platinum. Other notable covers Buck Owens and the Buckaroos covered the song in 1971. The version reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in March 1971. BeBe & CeCe Winans covered the song in 1988 for their album Heaven. The song was released as a promo single in 1989. In 1991, P.J.B. featuring Hannah and Her Sisters, a US group assembled by Pete Bellotte and fronted by British singer Hannah Jones, released a dance cover which reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple covered the song for Cash 's album American IV : The Man Comes Around. This version was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003. In 2005, Anthony Callea covered the song as part of a double A-sided single with `` Rain ''. It reached number one in Australia. Mary J. Blige, David Foster, and Andrea Bocelli performed the song on January 31, 2010, during the 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony, in the context of raising awareness for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. This version reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On December 9, 2013, Tessanne Chin covered the song on season 5 of NBC 's singing competition The Voice for the semifinal round. The song went to the number one spot on iTunes within 12 hours, with her becoming the first contestant to achieve the top chart position at the end of an applicable voting window that season. `` A Bridge over You '', a charity single recorded and released independently by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, the choir of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust located in south - east London, was a mashup of `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel and Coldplay 's 2005 single `` Fix You '', with additional arrangement by the choir 's conductor, Peter Mitchell. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart at Christmas 2015. In 2007, Annie Lennox covered the song in Idol Gives Back. In 2010, Amber Riley - as the character of Mercedes Jones - covered the song during the third episode of the second season of Glee. This version peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1970 -- 71 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Canada 100 ( RPM ) Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 23 France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 5 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) 7 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 5 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Best Selling Soul Singles ( Billboard ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Easy Listening ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1970 ) Rank Australia 5 Canada UK US Billboard Hot 100 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United States ( RIAA ) Gold 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Preceded by `` Thank You ( Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin ) '' / `` Everybody Is a Star '' by Sly & the Family Stone Billboard Hot 100 number - one single ( Simon and Garfunkel version ) February 28, 1970 ( six weeks ) Succeeded by `` Let It Be '' by The Beatles Preceded by `` I 'll Never Fall in Love Again '' by Dionne Warwick Billboard Easy Listening Singles number - one single ( Simon and Garfunkel version ) February 28, 1970 ( six weeks ) Succeeded by `` Let It Be '' by The Beatles Preceded by `` Never Can Say Goodbye '' by The Jackson 5 Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles number - one single ( Aretha Franklin version ) May 22, 1971 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Want Ads '' by Honey Cone Preceded by `` Want Ads '' by Honey Cone Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles number - one single ( Aretha Franklin version ) June 5, 1971 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Want Ads '' by Honey Cone Preceded by `` Wand'rin ' Star '' by Lee Marvin UK Singles Chart number - one single ( Simon and Garfunkel version ) 22 March -- 11 April 1970 ( three weeks ) Succeeded by `` All Kinds of Everything '' by Dana Preceded by `` There There '' by Radiohead Canadian number - one single ( Clay Aiken version ) June 28, 2003 ( thirteen weeks ) Succeeded by `` Someday '' by Nickelback Preceded by `` Despacito '' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber UK Singles Chart number - one single ( Artists for Grenfell version ) 23 -- 29 June 2017 ( one week ) Succeeded by `` Despacito '' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber Artists for Grenfell Tower charity single `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' Single by Artists for Grenfell Released June 21, 2017 Format Digital download charity single Recorded June 2017 Genre Pop Length 3 : 53 Label Syco Songwriter ( s ) Paul Simon Producer ( s ) Graham Stack Tokio Myers Trevor Horn To raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation, Simon Cowell arranged the recording and release of a charity single on June 21, 2017. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on June 23, 2017. Artists The song is performed by the following artists : Vocals Stormzy Robbie Williams James Blunt Rita Ora Craig David Bastille Liam Payne Emeli Sandé Kelly Jones ( of Stereophonics ) Paloma Faith Louis Tomlinson Labrinth Jorja Smith WSTRN Leona Lewis Jessie J James Arthur Roger Daltrey ( of The Who ) Ella Eyre Anne - Marie Ella Henderson Louisa Johnson 5 After Midnight Angel Carl Barât ( of The Libertines ) Deno Donae'o Dua Lipa Fleur East Gareth Malone & The Choir for Grenfell Geri Halliwell Gregory Porter Jessie Ware John Newman Jon McClure ( of Reverend and The Makers ) London Community Gospel Choir Matt Goss Matt Terry Mr Eazi Nathan Sykes Omar Pixie Lott Ray BLK Raye Shakka Shane Filan Tom Grennan Tony Hadley Tulisa Instruments Brian May ( of Queen ) -- guitar Nile Rodgers -- guitar Tokio Myers -- piano Pete Townshend ( of The Who ) -- guitar Charts Chart ( 2017 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) 53 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 32 Belgium ( Ultratip Flanders ) 26 Finland Download ( Latauslista ) 23 France ( SNEP ) 111 Hungary ( Single Top 40 ) 31 Ireland ( IRMA ) 25 New Zealand Heatseekers ( RMNZ ) Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 28 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) Notes References Jump up ^ `` Sold on Song -- Bridge Over Troubled Water ''. 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Retrieved 13 August 2012. Jump up ^ Bennighof 2007, p. 43. Jump up ^ `` Simon and Garfunkel, ' Bridge Over Troubled Water ' 500 Greatest Songs of All Time ''. Rolling Stone. 2011 - 04 - 07. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ Ebel 2004, pp. 58 -- 60. Jump up ^ Giles Smith ( September 11, 1994 ). `` Lives of the great songs / Bridge over troubled water ''. The Independent. Retrieved August 14, 2012. Jump up ^ Ebel 2004, p. 61. Jump up ^ `` Across America Promotional CD Interview With Art ''. Art Garfunkel Official Website. Retrieved August 15, 2012. Jump up ^ Browne 2012, p. 154. Jump up ^ Eliot 2010, p. 106. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1996 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition ( Billboard Publications ) Jump up ^ Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1970 ^ Jump up to : `` American single certifications -- Simon & Garfunekl -- Bridge over Troubled Water ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ Murrells, Joseph ( 1978 ). The Book of Golden Discs ( 2, illustrated ed. ). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0 - 214 - 20480 - 4. Jump up ^ Moore - Gilbert, Bart ( 2002 - 03 - 11 ). The Arts in the 1970s : Cultural Closure. Routledge. Retrieved 2012 - 05 - 30. Jump up ^ Charlesworth 1997, p. 49. Jump up ^ Eliot 2010, pp. 103, 164. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Top R&B / Hip - Hop Singles : 1942 -- 2004. Record Research. p. 215. Jump up ^ `` Grammy 's Greatest Moments, Volume III : Various Artists ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ `` YouTube ''. YouTube. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ Eliot, Marc ( 2010 ). Paul Simon : A Life. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons. p. 105. ISBN 9780470900871. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Hot Dance / Disco : 1974 - 2003. Record Research. p. 60. Jump up ^ `` Artists raise fund in HK for Taiwan flood victims ''. China.org.cn. Jump up ^ Hardie, Giles ( 29 September 2013 ). `` Minogue reduced to tears on X Factor ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2016. Jump up ^ Hung, Steffen. `` Discography Dami Im ''. Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2013 Albums ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 02 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Ultimate Music Database ''. Umdmusic.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ Rodriguez, Jayson ( 1 February 2010 ). `` Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli Brought ' Heavy Emotion ' To Grammy Duet For Haiti ''. MTV. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 12 - 18. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ RPM ( March 14, 1970 ). `` Adult Contemporary -- Volume 13, No. 4, March 14 1970 '' ( PDF ). RPM archives. ( Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada ). Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ RPM ( March 14, 1970 ). `` Top Singles -- Volume 13, No. 4, March 14 1970 '' ( PDF ). RPM archives. ( Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada ). Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Simon & Garfunkel Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 5, 1970 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water ''. VG - lista. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ Brian Currin. `` South African Rock Lists Website -- SA Charts 1969 -- 1989 Acts ( S ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2014 - 05 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water '' Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Simon & Garfunkel -- Bridge over Troubled Water ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Simon & Garfunkel -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Simon & Garfunkel. Retrieved March 11, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. collectionscanada.gc.ca. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1970 / Top 100 Songs of 1970 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 02. ^ Jump up to : Metro.co.uk, Rebecca Lewis for ( 20 June 2017 ). `` Simon Cowell 's Grenfell Tower charity single available from 8am on June 21 ''. Retrieved 21 June 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Chart Watch # 427 ''. auspOp. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Artists for Grenfell -- Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Artists for Grenfell -- Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratip. Retrieved July 7, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Artists for Grenfell : Bridge Over Troubled Water '' ( in Finnish ). Musiikkituottajat -- IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 2, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés -- SNEP ( Week 25, 2017 ) '' ( in French ). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Archívum -- Slágerlisták -- MAHASZ '' ( in Hungarian ). Single ( track ) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 29, 2017. Jump up ^ `` IRMA -- Irish Charts ''. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart ''. Recorded Music NZ. 26 June 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Artists for Grenfell -- Bridge Over Troubled Water ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 3, 2017. Sources Eliot, Marc ( 2010 ). Paul Simon : A Life. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978 - 0 - 470 - 43363 - 8. Fornatale, Pete ( 2007 ). Simon and Garfunkel 's Bookends. Rodale. ISBN 978 - 1 - 59486 - 427 - 8. External links Video recording of `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' on YouTube, Paul Simon, composer ; sung by Art Garfunkel Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Simon & Garfunkel Paul Simon Art Garfunkel Studio albums Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Sounds of Silence Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme Bookends Bridge over Troubled Water Live albums The Concert in Central Park Live from New York City, 1967 Old Friends : Live on Stage Live 1969 Compilation albums Simon and Garfunkel 's Greatest Hits Collected Works The Simon and Garfunkel Collection 20 Greatest Hits The Definitive Simon and Garfunkel Old Friends The Best of Simon and Garfunkel Two Can Dream Alone Tales from New York : The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel The Columbia Studio Recordings ( 1964 -- 1970 ) Tom & Jerry The Essential Simon & Garfunkel The Collection : Simon & Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel : The Complete Albums Collection Soundtrack albums The Graduate Videos The Concert in Central Park Old Friends : Live on Stage Discographies Simon & Garfunkel Art Garfunkel Paul Simon Other Songs recorded Paul Simon solo albums Paul Simon songs Art Garfunkel solo albums Bridge over Troubled Water ( Paul Desmond album ) Book Category Simon & Garfunkel singles Discography List of songs recorded Sounds of Silence `` The Sound of Silence '' / `` We 've Got A Groovey Thing Goin ' '' `` I Am a Rock '' / `` Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall '' Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme `` Homeward Bound '' / `` Leaves That Are Green '' `` The Dangling Conversation '' / `` The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine '' `` Scarborough Fair / Canticle '' / `` April Come She Will '' Bookends `` A Hazy Shade of Winter '' / `` For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her '' `` At the Zoo '' / `` The 59th Street Bridge Song ( Feelin ' Groovy ) '' `` Fakin ' It '' / `` You Do n't Know Where Your Interest Lies '' `` Mrs. Robinson '' / `` Old Friends '' / `` Bookends '' Bridge over Troubled Water `` The Boxer '' / `` Baby Driver '' `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' / `` Keep the Customer Satisfied '' `` Cecilia '' / `` The Only Living Boy in New York '' `` El Cóndor Pasa ( If I Could ) '' / `` Why Do n't You Write Me '' Other singles Hey Schoolgirl Our Song This is my Song Surrender, Please Surrender I 'm Lonesome `` America '' `` My Little Town '' `` Wake Up Little Susie '' Other songs `` Richard Cory '' `` Patterns '' `` A Simple Desultory Philippic ( or How I Was Robert McNamara 'd into Submission ) '' `` 7 O'Clock News / Silent Night '' `` Save the Life of My Child '' `` Overs '' `` Punky 's Dilemma '' `` So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright '' Category Buck Owens Studio albums Buck Owens Buck Owens Buck Owens Sings Harlan Howard You 're for Me On the Bandstand Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins Together Again I Do n't Care I 've Got a Tiger by the Tail Before You Go Roll Out the Red Carpet Dust on Mother 's Bible Open Up Your Heart Your Tender Loving Care It Takes People Like You Sweet Rosie Jones Holiday albums Christmas with Buck Owens Christmas Shopping Live albums Carnegie Hall Concert In Japan ! Compilation albums The Fabulous Country Music Sound of Buck Owens The Best of Buck Owens Best of Buck Owens, Vol. 2 21 # 1 Hits : The Ultimate Collection Notable singles `` Under Your Spell Again '' `` Above and Beyond '' `` Excuse Me ( I Think I 've Got a Heartache ) '' `` Foolin ' Around '' `` Save the Last Dance for Me '' `` Act Naturally '' `` Love 's Gonna Live Here '' `` My Heart Skips a Beat '' `` I Do n't Care ( Just as Long as You Love Me ) '' `` I 've Got a Tiger By the Tail '' `` Before You Go '' `` Only You ( Can Break My Heart ) '' `` Buckaroo '' `` Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy '' `` Waitin ' in Your Welfare Line '' `` Think of Me '' `` Open Up Your Heart '' `` Where Does the Good Times Go '' `` Sam 's Place '' `` Your Tender Loving Care '' `` How Long Will My Baby Be Gone '' `` Who 's Gonna Mow Your Grass '' `` Johnny B. Goode '' `` Tall Dark Stranger '' `` Big in Vegas '' `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' `` Rollin ' in My Sweet Baby 's Arms '' `` Made in Japan '' Collaboration singles `` Love Is Strange '' Guest singles `` Streets of Bakersfield '' B - side singles `` Loose Talk '' `` Together Again Related articles Discography Capitol Records Dwight Sings Buck Grammy Award for Record of the Year ( 1970s ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) produced by Bones Howe ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King produced by Lou Adler ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack produced by Joel Dorn ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack produced by Joel Dorn ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John produced by John Farrar ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) produced by Daryl Dragon ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson produced by Tommy LiPuma ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) produced by Bill Szymczyk ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel produced by Phil Ramone ( 1979 ) Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year ( 1970s ) 1970 Joe South - `` Games People Play '' 1971 Paul Simon - `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' 1972 Carole King - `` You 've Got a Friend '' 1973 Ewan MacColl - `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox - `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch - `` The Way We Were '' 1976 Stephen Sondheim - `` Send in the Clowns '' 1977 Bruce Johnston - `` I Write the Songs '' 1978 Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams - `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' and Joe Brooks - `` You Light Up My Life '' 1979 Billy Joel - `` Just the Way You Are '' Complete list ( 1960s ) ( 1970s ) ( 1980s ) ( 1990s ) ( 2000s ) ( 2010s ) Billboard Year - End number one singles ( 1960 -- 1979 ) 1960 : `` Theme from A Summer Place '' -- Percy Faith 1961 : `` Tossin ' and Turnin ' '' -- Bobby Lewis 1962 : `` Stranger on the Shore '' -- Mr. Acker Bilk 1963 : `` Sugar Shack '' -- Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs 1964 : `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' -- The Beatles 1965 : `` Wooly Bully '' -- Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs 1966 : `` Ballad of the Green Berets '' -- S / Sgt. Barry Sadler 1967 : `` To Sir, with Love '' -- Lulu 1968 : `` Hey Jude '' -- The Beatles 1969 : `` Sugar, Sugar '' -- The Archies 1970 : `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Simon & Garfunkel 1971 : `` Joy to the World '' -- Three Dog Night 1972 : `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' -- Roberta Flack 1973 : `` Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree '' -- Tony Orlando and Dawn 1974 : `` The Way We Were '' -- Barbra Streisand 1975 : `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' -- Captain & Tennille 1976 : `` Silly Love Songs '' -- Wings 1977 : `` Tonight 's the Night ( Gonna Be Alright ) '' -- Rod Stewart 1978 : `` Shadow Dancing '' -- Andy Gibb 1979 : `` My Sharona '' -- The Knack Complete list ( 1946 -- 1959 ) ( 1960 -- 1979 ) ( 1980 -- 1999 ) ( 2000 -- 2019 ) Andrea Bocelli singles Il mare calmo della sera `` Il mare calmo della sera '' Bocelli `` Con te partirò '' / `` Vivere '' `` Macchine da Guerra '' `` Per amore '' `` Vivo per lei '' Romanza `` Vivo por ella '' `` Time to Say Goodbye '' `` Ich lebe für sie '' `` Je vis pour elle '' Sogno `` The Prayer '' `` Canto della Terra '' Sacred Arias `` Ave Maria '' Cieli di Toscana `` Melodramma '' `` Mille Lune Mille Onde '' `` L'abitudine '' Andrea `` Dell'amore non si sa '' `` Un nuovo giorno '' Amore `` Somos Novios ( It 's Impossible ) '' `` Because We Believe '' `` Ama Credi E Vai '' Vivere `` Dare to Live ( Vivere ) '' `` Vive Ya '' My Christmas `` White Christmas / Bianco Natale '' `` What Child Is This '' Cinema `` E Più Ti Penso '' Other singles `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' Other songs `` The Power of Love '' `` Bésame Mucho '' `` Amapola '' `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' `` Panis Angelicus '' `` Adeste Fideles '' `` Blue Christmas '' Category Media Linda Clifford Studio albums If My Friends Could See Me Now ( 1978 ) Let Me Be Your Woman ( 1979 ) The Right Combination ( 1980 ) Singles `` Runaway Love '' `` If My Friends Could See Me Now '' `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' `` Red Light '' `` Shoot Your Best Shot '' `` Do n't Come Crying to Me '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bridge_over_Troubled_Water_(song)&oldid=804170889 '' Categories : 1969 songs 1970 singles 1970s ballads 1971 singles 1979 singles Songs written by Paul Simon Simon & Garfunkel songs Elvis Presley songs Aretha Franklin songs Linda Clifford songs Shirley Bassey songs Buck Owens songs Andrea Bocelli songs Andy Williams songs Nancy Wilson ( jazz singer ) songs Glen Campbell songs Song recordings produced by Roy Halee Song recordings produced by Paul Simon Song recordings produced by Art Garfunkel Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles RPM Adult Contemporary number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in New Zealand Grammy Award for Record of the Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Columbia Records singles Eva Cassidy songs Rock ballads Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist ( s ) Inspirational songs RSO Records singles Charity singles Hidden categories : CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Audio sample to be checked Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart making named ref Certification Table Entry usages for United States Singlechart usages for Flanders Tip Singlechart usages for Finnishdownload Singlechart usages for Hungarysingle Singlechart usages for Scotland Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Scots Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 7 October 2017, at 06 : 36. 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Question: bridge over troubled water who sang it first
Answer: Simon & Garfunkel