About the song
Simon & Garfunkel, the iconic duo known for their harmonies and introspective lyrics, released “The Sound of Silence” as a timeless masterpiece that has captivated audiences for decades. This haunting and evocative song, released in 1964, became a hit single and a defining track for the band’s iconic sound.
With their distinctive harmonies and poetic lyrics, Simon & Garfunkel explore the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the search for meaning in life. Through introspective lyrics and the duo’s emotive performance, listeners are invited to reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
The opening lines, “Hello darkness, my old friend,” immediately establish the song’s subject and set a melancholic tone. The lyrics continue to explore the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the desire for connection. The song’s refrain, “The sound of silence, I can hear it clearly,” conveys a sense of profound solitude and introspection.
Throughout the song, Simon & Garfunkel’s harmonies and the song’s minimalist arrangement create a captivating and immersive listening experience. The duo’s ability to evoke a sense of longing and introspection makes this song a timeless classic.
“The Sound of Silence” is more than just a popular song; it is a cultural touchstone that has influenced countless artists and generations of music fans. The song’s haunting melody and introspective lyrics continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a timeless and enduring piece of music history.
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Lyrics
Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
“Fools” said I, “You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, “The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence”