Bridge Over Troubled Water...Let it Be

J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R.*


It is incredible what you find when you scratch the surface.

My wife's favorite song the
1970 #1 hit from Simon and Garfunkel,

Bridge Over Troubled Water

is a powerful companion piece to the

1970 #1 hit from the Beatles,

Let it Be

Investigating a hunch---that the talented duo (formerly known as Tom and Jerry) was inspired to write this and that it had something to do with Jesus, the Real Bridge over troubled water (and stiller of stormy seas)---bore great dividends.

It seems Paul Simon who wrote the song was inspired by American Gospel Music and a group, The Swan Silvertones whose vocal arrangements had a great effect on many a rock artist. It is also interesting to note that final arrangement of BOTW is not unlike a Johann Sebastian Bach church chorale, a hymn of praise.

From http://www.answers.com/topic/swan-silvertones?cat=entertainment we learn a bit about the Swan Silvertones:

"Perhaps their greatest hit was "Oh Mary Don't You Weep," released in 1959 -- an incredible listening experience. It is in this song that Claude Jeter intones the phrase "I'll be a bridge over deep water, if you trust in my name" that inspired Paul Simon to compose "Bridge Over Troubled Water" some years later. "

Well Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus from Bethany) are in the song and JESUS is the person singing, the BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER who asks the listener to put trust in His name.

So here is the unasked question:

If Simon and Garfunkel (two Jewish lads from New York) had an image of Jesus on the album cover, would Bridge Over Troubled Water have still topped the charts and had such an impact?

Let it Be? So be it!

Paul McCartney acknowledges his inspiration in 1969, a mysterious ghostly visit from his mother, Mary Mohin, a Roman Catholic who died of cancer when he was 14. Paul explains it thus: "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'."
Not bad for a boy who wanted to grow up to be a Catholic lorry driver. He lost his mom and his faith as a young teen due to her sudden and tragic passing.

Again the question:
If in Let it Be Paul McCartney alluded to the fact that he was crafting this piece to elicit a specific response, like what one feels after listening to a church hymn that places the Blessed Virgin Mary and her fiat front and center, would it have still topped the charts?

Songwriting Jewish friends cannot acknowledge inspiration coming from JESUS...Why?
Songwriting Irish-Beatle cannot acknowledge wisdom flowing from MARY...Why?

The good fruit, the amazing success of these two piano-based chart-topppers speaks to the psychological makeup of the human being (a hard wiring for unity, truth, goodness and beauty) and the TRUTH that is found in its fullness in the Roman Catholic Church.

It is not a coincidence that Phil Spector (another talented Jewish man, music producer and the inventor of the "Wall of Sound") had something to do with these two piano-based songs finding their final Top 40 form in 1969. Both songs were in effect "swansongs" for the two hit-making phenoms for both the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel were to breakup before the end of the decade, 12/31/69. In 1970 the year of the Peace Sign, there was pain, divorce and two great songs to witness to what might have been...

There is great talent and then there is the GREATEST TRUTH: JESUS SAVES and MARY SAID YES!

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,
Mike Rizzio, SOLT

Imitate Mary
Become like Jesus
Live for the Triune God

Seek the Light of Our Lord Jesus Christ
See you on the High Ground!

If you have a few minutes please go to the following sites
and see what I have been compelled to work on since 2004.
http://soltlaity.org/breadoflife.htm
http://soltlaity.org/slideshow.htm

I will attempt to answer any and all inquiries.

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* - J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R. stands for: Jesus, Mary and Joseph;
O Beata Trinitas; St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael