# Your favorite song bridges **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041 "2007-07-16T22:03:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/1 "2007-07-16T22:03:20Z")
For those who don’t know what I am talking about, check the [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_%28music%29) link provided. Here are some of mine: [ul] [li]“Light My Fire”- The Doors[/li][li]“Radar Love”- Golden Earring[/li][li]“Inna Godda Davida”- Iron Butterly[/li][li]“Frankenstein”- Edgar Winter Group[/li][li]“Tom Sawyer”- Rush[/li][li]“Dazed and Confused” - Led Zeppelin[/li][/ul] I should also mention that I absolutely HATE it when radio stations cut the bridge short when playing these songs. It’s enough to ruin the whole song for me, but I’ll save my vitriol on this for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/2 "2007-07-16T22:24:08Z")
Hah, I stopped listening to radio the day I got my first ipod. Light My Fire was the first thing I was going to say. Speaking of Frankenstein, I love the They Might Be Giants version of it that they perform live now and then, complete with the drum and ACCORDION solos (subbing for the guitar part of the bridge). ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/3 "2007-07-16T22:33:11Z")
“_Rearviewmirror_” by Pearl Jam… the creshendo before the return to “saw things, so much clearer…” gives me chills every time… ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/4 "2007-07-16T23:16:29Z")
Yeah, I was gonna reply, but I did not understand the link. Is bridge a musicians thing? When I sing Karaoke all I know is “Why don’t we get drunk and screw” has a 40 second bridge. Long enough to get a hit off my beer and a hit on a chick. So really, in simple English, what is a bridge? SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/5 "2007-07-16T23:26:13Z")
Here’s an easy way to identify the bridge. Find all the verses and choruses and isolate them out. What’s left is the bridge. It’s main purpose is to relieve boredom and/or provide a connection between repeating choruses. One example I’d offer of a very good bridge is in _Every Breath you Take_ by The Police. The bridge starts when Sting sings, “Since you’ve gone, I’ve been lost without a trace.” It’s not like the rest of the song. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/6 "2007-07-16T23:32:06Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Here’s an easy way to identify the bridge. Find all the verses and choruses and isolate them out. What’s left is the bridge. It’s main purpose is to relieve boredom and/or provide a connection between repeating choruses. One example I’d offer of a very good bridge is in _Every Breath you Take_ by The Police. The bridge starts when Sting sings, “Since you’ve gone, I’ve been lost without a trace.” It’s not like the rest of the song. [/QUOTE] Got it, Thanks rushing off to check CD collection SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/7 "2007-07-16T23:42:38Z")
“Badge”- Cream 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/8 "2007-07-16T23:44:27Z")
[QUOTE=fusoya] Speaking of Frankenstein, I love the They Might Be Giants version of it that they perform live now and then, complete with the drum and ACCORDION solos (subbing for the guitar part of the bridge). [/QUOTE] Mojo Nixon did the same thing - it sorta works, doesn’t it? Joe ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/9 "2007-07-16T23:53:49Z")
The 59th Street Bridge got its own entire song. Ironically the song doesn;t really have a bridge. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/10 "2007-07-16T23:55:35Z")
I have to go with the Lone Justice Live version of “[Sweet Jane](http://play.rhapsody.com/mariamckee/ultimatecollectionthisoneisforthegirl/sweetjanelonejusticelive?didAutoplayBounce=true) .” I can’t play that in the car because the foot goes to the floor and tunnel vision ensues. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/11 "2007-07-16T23:58:08Z")
“A Day in the Life.” ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/12 "2007-07-17T00:44:15Z")
Patty Griffin’s song “Chief” has an incredible bridge. Actually, a lot of her songs have really good bridges. It’s kind of refreshing given that many artists’ bridges sound like afterthoughts. An exhilarating one can be transcendental; a crappy one makes the whole song feel tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Gengis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gengis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gengis)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/13 "2007-07-17T00:58:05Z")
Where’s that confounded bridge? Is a bridge only a lyrical construct? What about a musical transition, or is that the “break”? ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/14 "2007-07-17T01:19:31Z")
How could I possibly forget the greatest bridge in the greatest country & western song ever. David Allen Coe singing the Steve Goodman song: You Never Even Call Me by my Name SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9fc29f/32.png) [@I\_m\_Ron\_Burgundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_Ron_Burgundy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/15 "2007-07-17T01:42:01Z")
Smashing Pumpkins - Galapagos Probably the best of all time. The quiet guitar harmony by itself qualifies, but then he tacks on the powerful resurgence and I’m in heaven. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/16 "2007-07-17T03:02:08Z")
Golden Earring - Twilight Zone Live - I Alone ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/17 "2007-07-17T04:11:06Z")
Blues Traveler’s “Hook” has a fairly lengthy bridge, starting with a magnificent harmonica solo followed by the lightning-fast “Suck it in suck it in if you’re Rin Tin Tin or Anne Bolynn [sp?]” section. I’ve heard the song hundreds of times already and I still have to stop and appreciate the beauty of the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/18 "2007-07-17T07:11:06Z")
“Hey You”- Pink Floyd: WOW (That is, if I understand the definition of “bridge”) ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/19 "2007-07-17T16:40:03Z")
[QUOTE=Shamozzle] “Hey You”- Pink Floyd: WOW (That is, if I understand the definition of “bridge”) [/QUOTE] It’s also the same melody as the verses in “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2”. A few years ago I pointed this out to my sister. She had never noticed it until I mentioned it to her. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-song-bridges/412041/20 "2007-07-17T16:46:31Z")
Somewhat obscure, to the extent that any Elvis Costello song can be, I like the bridge with the guitar solo in “Pidgin English” from _Imperial Bedroom_. You know, the one where Elvis sings, “Take it to the bridge, she sighs…” right before the bridge.