01 Mar 2024, 00:00

Readers recommend: songs about bridges – results

From the evocative and tragic to the romantic and iconic, here are your bridge songs

Now that we're all on the same side of the bridge, here are some of the songs that made it – as unfortunately many had to fall over. Turns out bridges can have many meanings – here are some of them as portrayed in music, from the spiritual to the physical.

Bridge Over Troubled Water couldn't not be here. This classic conveys arguably the most beautiful bridge metaphor – of him transforming into a bridge to make it possible for her dreams to cross. A strikingly beautiful and yet simple way of offering unconditional help. As Olly said, regardless of whether it's up there with S&G's other hits, it clearly means something to a lot of people.

You have to listen to Aretha Franklin's ecstatic version, nominated by steenbeck, for a while until it kicks in, but then you're lost in it. Special mention for Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple's cover – but having three versions of the same song would probably be too much.

The Pogues set the romantic mood with Misty Morning, Albert Bridge, a lovely song about lovers being apart, full of longing, according to suzi. They also capture how epic it can be to cross the Thames on an early foggy morning.

Neko Case is fed up with people sticking their noses into her business, says Slademan. She's in Mood To Burn Bridges, and after this hectic tune you'll probably be too. Sheffield's Lady's Bridge is the setting for Richard Hawley's quest for leaving the past behind. The bridge is, for him, the place to "forget her", and he'd like to stay forever and watch the river flow as gently as his melody.

But for existential bridges, Sir Elton's The Bridge takes the cake. He beautifully tells us, standing on the bridge, where he's "seen so many jump, never one saved", how the cold iron structure will at some point force us to decide: do you cross the bridge or fade away?

American folk-rock artist Lissie covered Nick Cave's The Ship Song, keeping its solemnity and anthem-like sound but adding a wonderful soft electronic pinch. Bethnoir reminds us that, through these lyrics, we found Nick burning bridges and committing to someone special.

Elliott Smith embraces the idea of burning bridges, not looking back and finding a beautiful place to forget reality on his relaxing Let's get lost. More metaphorical bridges, courtesy of exiledMan.

If you think Erie Canal hasn't got much to do with bridges, you're wrong, warns debbym: "Those low bridges let you know you're coming to a town." Bruce Springsteen's fantastic rendition of this popular song is ridiculously contagious.

That voice, that harp, those verses … Joanna Newsom makes Bridges and Balloons sound exquisit and delicate – although apparently they do irritate calm canaries.

Another indisputable classic is Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a desolate song about complete alienation. Indeed, the songwriter chooses a bridge – what else- for the most gripping verses of the song, at the end, about the impact of drugs on his life.

To (almost) finish off with a tune for slow-dancing couples, Sinatra's The Brooklyn Bridge is a textbook crooner melody about the obvious romance of bridges. BeltwayBandit (and "all the smooching couples that were there" with him) agrees with Frank that it's the perfect spot for romance - Manhattan folks, move over.

Now I did say musical bridges were not included … But James Brown's Sex Machine, hinted at by Severin, does mention the bridge in the lyrics and, frankly, what better way to end a rather gloomy selection than with this anarchic feast of rhythm and joy.