About the song
There are few songs in the American canon as soul-stirring as **“Bridge Over Troubled Water”**, and few voices as iconic as **Elvis Presley**’s. When the two converge, the result is something more than a mere cover—it becomes a kind of spiritual experience. Originally penned by Paul Simon and made famous by **Simon & Garfunkel** in 1970, the song was already steeped in gospel influences and carried the weight of comfort, healing, and quiet strength. But when **Elvis Presley** performed **“Bridge Over Troubled Water”**, particularly during the later years of his career, he imbued it with a personal sense of redemption and gravitas that made it distinctly his own.
By the time Elvis began performing this song in the 1970s, he was no longer the hip-shaking rebel of the ‘50s. He had evolved into something else entirely—a seasoned performer who had weathered fame, excess, and introspection. In live performances, particularly in the 1970s Las Vegas shows and the famed *Aloha from Hawaii* concert, **Elvis Presley** sang **“Bridge Over Troubled Water”** not as a pop ballad, but almost as a hymn. His voice—still rich, resonant, and commanding—soared over the arrangement with gospel-like conviction, transforming the song into a message of deep reassurance and emotional intimacy.
What makes Elvis’s interpretation so compelling is his ability to bridge—quite literally—the emotional depth of the lyrics with the sincerity of his delivery. His version leans heavily into the spiritual dimension of the song. Where Simon’s original is gentle and poetic, **Elvis Presley**’s rendition is grand and sermon-like, as if he’s not just offering to be a bridge, but insisting on it with the full weight of his soul. The orchestration, too, is more lush and dramatic, reinforcing the larger-than-life energy that was so characteristic of Elvis’s later performances.
In the broader context of his career, **“Bridge Over Troubled Water”** serves as a poignant reminder of Elvis’s roots in gospel and his lifelong search for personal and artistic salvation. It’s no coincidence that many of his most powerful performances were of spiritually tinged songs—he wasn’t just singing them; he was living them. For listeners, especially those familiar with both versions, Elvis’s take is more than just a cover. It’s a farewell, a prayer, and perhaps even a confession.
If you haven’t heard this version in a while, it’s worth revisiting—not just for the music, but for the emotion behind it. **Elvis Presley – Bridge Over Troubled Water** isn’t just a performance. It’s a testimony.
Video
Lyrics
One, two
One, two, three, four
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before we fall apart at the seams
We’ve got to patch it up baby
We can’t let time unravel our dreams
Let’s go back and touch the past
One more night is all I ask
Get that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We got to patch it up baby
Let’s sweep out all the cobwebs in our hearts
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before indifference pulls us apart
Don’t let a good love die
Let’s give it just one more try
With that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
With a whole lotta love
