In 1970, Paul Simon released one of his greatest songs. Even he couldn’t explain where it came from

Paul Simon said he could not explain where the inspiration for ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ came from, describing its arrival as sudden and startling. The song became one of Simon and Garfunkel’s best-known recordings, and its promise of comfort is central to its lasting impact.

Simon wrote two verses, while Art Garfunkel suggested adding a third and helped shape the arrangement with pianist Larry Knechtel. The title drew on a line from the Swan Silvertones’ gospel song ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’; Simon discussed the song’s mysterious beginnings in a 2011 documentary.