What role does a bridge serve within a song?

The bridge of a song serves a crucial role as a transition between different sections, typically connecting the verse and chorus or changing the mood just before the return to the main theme. This transition often introduces new musical ideas, a shift in dynamics, or a contrasting lyrical theme. The purpose of the bridge is to create variety and to enhance the emotional impact of the song, leading back into familiar territory—often the chorus—which helps maintain the listener's interest and prepares them for a return to the established themes.

While the introduction of thematic material is generally the purpose of the beginning of a song, and summarizing or emphasizing the final chorus could describe other song sections, the primary function of a bridge is specifically to connect and transition, making it an integral linking point within the song's structure.