Bridge Over Troubled Water to The Bridge on the River Kwai

Admittedly it helps to know some films to be able to figure out sources of inspiration for musicians. But, beyond that, sometimes the music composer makes it pretty easy for anyone to figure these sources out, once they become aware that this is going on (naturally).

A case in point is the Simon and Garfunkel song, "Bridge over Troubled Waters." Not only is the song title a huge clue but with key lyrics like:

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

it suggests the question, exactly what is this bridge over troubled waters and what is being laid down?

The source of inspiration I'm referring to is the film, The Bridge On The River Kwai, with a collapsing Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) laying down over the dynamite plunger causing it to explode with the second laying down being the bridge over troubled water being the ... um ... bridge over troubled waters - with the train falling into the water.

Another nice touch is the sign Colonel Nicholson so proudly erected to the unnamed "This Bridge"