Last week I heard a cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the classic Simon & Garfunkel folk song from the same-named album released in 1970. It was on regular rotation in my home when it came out. I was only 5 years old at the time. It was wildly popular, and the song and album each won Grammy Awards for best of categories that year.

There’s a reason this song resonated globally at a troubling time. The year of its release was troubling, globally, as the Vietnam War and other tensions boiled. According to Rolling Stone: “It not only lorded over the U.S. charts but went Top 10 in South Africa, Malaysia, Lebanon, Denmark, Switzerland, and other countries. Everyone from Aretha Franklin and country banjo legend Earl Scruggs to cabaret star Peggy Lee covered it. Columbia claimed that the Bridge Over Troubled Water LP sold nearly 2 million copies in three weeks.”

My mom was playing this song in particular on our record player over, and over, and over, and over, again in 1970. Then, as I was listening to this cover more than 50 years later, it hit me. She was desperately trying to leave a horrifically abusive marriage, and it was her way of finding peace. She was able to leave three years later, but by the skin of her teeth. We had nothing (her, me, my sister). There were funner times I can assure you. Funny how one can suddenly realize small things with the power of music.

I feel now, also, we are in such times and feel troubled waters in so many places. Maybe music will be the one thing that can bring peace to many. Music may be the universal medicine to life’s problems.