a bridge over troubled water

i was too young to be a huge simon and garfunkel fan; they rose to fame when i was only three years old and broke up when i was about eight. but one of their biggest hits was featured on glee this week, and it got me wondering: in whose voice is the song really written?

when you're weary, feeling small
when tears are in your eyes, i will dry them all
i'm on your side 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
when darkness comes
and pains 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 silvergirl
sail on by
your time has come to shine
all your dreams are on their way
see how they shine
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

i'll admit that i can't really make sense of that last verse with my theory, but i also don't think it quite fits the rest of the song; i wonder if perhaps it was added later as some sort of gloss. [an old friend suggests that silvergirl could be a reference to the church, the bride of Jesus, and i have to admit, it fits. thanks, d!]

but the rest of the song seems clearly to come from one voice:

• the one who comes to us when we are weary and heavy burdened (psalm 68:19, matthew 11:28-30)
  
• the one who will someday dry every tear from our eyes (isaiah 25:8, revelation 21:3-4)
  
• the one who is on our side when times get rough and friends can't be found (proverbs 18:24, hebrews 13:5)
  
• the one who takes our part when darkness comes and comforts us when pain is all around (john 14:26, 2 corinthians 1:3-5)
  
• the one who lays down his life to make a way for us where there was no way (micah 2:13, john 10:11)

many say that this song is about friendship. that's at least partially true. but there is really only one bridge, one who lays down his life for all of us.

though he was in the form of God,
he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
and being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(philippians 2:5-11)