spoke to Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview<\/a> about the inspiration behind the title and lyrics.<\/p>\nTurns out, the titular muse is one of Styles\u2019s friends, named\u2014of course\u2014Carla. \u201cCarla kind of just became, in so many ways, the most important part of the record to me,\u201d the singer told Lowe. He added that the song \u201canswered so many questions\u201d he had about why he makes music and loves performing. It reminded him that \u201cthere was a time when you heard a song for the first time that made you want to touch music, in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Styles recalled a moment when Carla and their group of friends were hanging out at someone\u2019s house before an after-party and she mentioned she had just discovered Paul Simon. Styles, who grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel, was already a fan. \u201cWhen I lived in a pub a little bit when I was younger, there was like a four-CD changer that I think the \u2018Bridge Over Troubled Water\u2019 record was in the whole time I lived there,\u201d he told Lowe.<\/p>\n\n
That night with Carla and their friends, Styles said he decided to play her \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water,\u201d thinking she might like it. The moment turned out to be life-changing for both of them.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWatching her listen to it, having never heard that song, felt like I was just watching someone see or something, or like discover magic,\u201d Styles said. \u201cThere was something in that moment that reminded me of, by making music, what you\u2019re investing in, and it\u2019s songs that go so beyond our lifetime.\u201d He also played her Simon and Garfunkel\u2019s \u201cKathy\u2019s Song,\u201d which inspired the title \u201cCarla\u2019s Song.\u201d<\/p>\n
Styles explained to Lowe that the experience helped him acknowledge what\u2019s so special about making music, that \u201cmaybe someone hears a song of yours and goes, \u2018This song\u2019s going to be in my life forever.\u2019 That is kind of it. Like, that is enough. And I don\u2019t ask for any more than that, really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Listen to the song and read the full lyrics below.<\/p>\n
There is a bridge that leads to troubled waters
If you know, then you know
If you don\u2019t, then you don\u2019t, it\u2019s heavenly
From your head to your toes
Saw the light and the gold that you discoverThrough your eyes, in awe, melodies like a tide
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
Can you hear that voice
Delivering the news?
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
Ignorance or innocence
Call it what you wanna<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve been a baby sleeping upon a candy bar
Till your eyes open on the changing summer light<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
Can you hear that voice
Delivering the news?
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
It\u2019s all waiting there for you
Call it what you wanna<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytimeIt\u2019s all waiting there for you
It\u2019s all waiting there for you<\/p>\n
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime
I know what you like, I know what you’ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind (It\u2019s all there waiting for you)
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind (It\u2019s all there waiting)
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime (It\u2019s all there waiting for you)
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, I know I can read your mind
I know what you like, I know what you\u2019ll really like
I know what you like, you can hear it anytime<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n