1970 Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 56 Years Ago Today
1970 Classic Was a No. 1 Hit 56 Years Ago Today
Geca FloresSun, March 1, 2026 at 2:06 AM UTC
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Simon & Garfunkel delivered a number of hits that captured the spirit of a generation and shaped the sound of modern folk rock.
56 years ago today, the highly influential American duo introduced one of the defining anthems of the ‘70s, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, dominated the chart for six weeks and was the top song on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970.
The release of the gospel-influenced pop ballad earned them multiple recognitions, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, further cementing its legacy in music history.
Written by Paul Simon, it was part of the duo’s fifth and final studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, which also featured their most successful single.
Due to its massive global popularity, Simon & Garfunkel’s song has been covered by music legends such as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley.
In a report mentioned by BBC, Simon described “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as his “greatest song” and even compared it to a classic hit of The Beatles, calling it his “Yesterday.”
“I have no idea where it came from,” the singer-songwriter mentioned in the 2011 documentary The Harmony Game, as cited by the publication, adding, “It just came, all of a sudden… I remember thinking. This is considerably better than I usually write.”
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Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon at The Library of Congress.Scott Suchman/WireImage via Getty Images (Scott Suchman/WireImage via Getty Images)
The iconic hit was not simply the product of a whim; it was inspired by the Swan Silvertones’ rendition of "Mary Don't You Weep”, which Simon listened to repeatedly while the duo worked on their album in the spring of 1969.
It was the line “I’ll be your bridge over deep water…” that moved him and became the song’s central idea.
“Every time I came home, I put that record on, so it was in my mind. I started to go to gospel chord changes, and took the melody even further,” Simon shared, as cited by Louder Sound. “Then there was one song where the lead singer was scatting, and he shouted out: ‘I’ll be your bridge over deep water/If you trust in my name.’ And, well, I guess I stole it.”
In 2020, marking the 50th anniversary of their iconic masterpiece, they released a digital EP through Legacy Recordings featuring four early live versions of songs from Simon & Garfunkel’s then-upcoming fifth studio album.
This gave fans a rare glimpse of the journey and also showcased the recorded performance during the sold-out show at Carnegie Hall in 1969.
Related: 1956 Hit Ranked Among ‘Best Country Songs of All Time’ Became a Timeless Classic
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
