De enige concurrent van Hendrix’ All Along The Watchtower en Johnny Cash’ Hurt voor de titel ‘beste cover aller tijden’. Het origineel is natuurlijk magnifiek, maar de intensiteit van Aretha Franklin’s versie van Bridge Over Troubled Water is echt ongeëvenaard. In tegenstelling tot alle andere artiesten die deze song gecoverd hebben, doet de Queen of Soul ook geen enkele poging Simon & Garfunkel te imiteren. Net als Hendrix en Cash maakt ze zich de song volledig eigen. Paul Simon: “I will say this: What Aretha did was, she did explain it to a black audience and made that song relevant in a way that it was always meant to do.”
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
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 around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on, silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
