… Read Full Bio ↴Francis Goya (born Francis Weyer) is a Belgian guitarist born in Liege.
Weyer first played with Patrick Ruymen in the group Les Caraïbes, a Belgian cover group. The two then formed the rock group Liberty Six in 1965, which had a proto-psychedelic stage show and released only one single before disbanding. Weyer then moved on to the J.J. Band and Plus.
In the 1970s, Weyer started using the name Francis Goya and released solo albums of romantic Spanish guitar and mandolin music. His 1975 single "Nostalgia", a tune written by his father and arranged for guitar by Goya, became an international hit, reaching #1 in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Norway, and Brazil. Later albums saw Goya moving more into a Latin American-influenced style, including three albums recorded with Bolivian singer Carmina Cabrera.
Goya has some 40 album releases to his credit.
Sound Of Silence
Francis Goya Lyrics
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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
'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
And no one dare
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 whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
The song "The Sound of Silence" by Francis Goya is a poetic masterpiece that explores the concept of solitude and how it is misunderstood in our society. The first verse introduces the singer's relationship with darkness, with which they seek comfort in their loneliness. The singer talks about a vision that they had in their sleep and how it has remained with them even after they have woken up. They believe that this vision, which is their thoughts, memories, and emotions, is still present in the "sound of silence" – a metaphor for the emptiness they feel inside.
In the second verse, the singer continues to describe their wanderings in the city streets, amidst people who only seem to talk and hear without really understanding or being heard. They talk about how people tend to write songs that they never really share and how the "sound of silence" is unbroken by any meaningful conversation. The singer tries to reach out and teach people about the importance of breaking this silence and connecting with each other. However, their words are ignored, falling like "silent raindrops" and only echoing in the "wells of silence."
The final verse introduces the idea of materialism, with people bowing and praying to a "neon god" – an artificial thing that they have made. The singer warns that the words of the prophets and wise people are not found in these things but rather in the "subway walls" and "tenement halls," hidden away and whispered in the "sounds of silence." The song thus highlights how the quest for materialistic pleasures often leads to an emptiness inside, and true connection can only be found by breaking the silence and connecting with each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness, my old friend,
The singer is addressing their own inner demons or struggles, represented by darkness, that they have known well for a long time.
I've come to talk with you again,
The singer is acknowledging that they have returned to a state of being overwhelmed or lost and is looking to confront those feelings.
Because a vision softly creeping,
The singer had a sudden realization or idea that they didn't fully comprehend at first.
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
Although the artist didn't consciously understand the vision, it left an impression on their subconsciousness.
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
The realization that the artist had is still present within their mind and thoughts, even though they may not have taken action on it yet.
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.
The singer describes a dreamlike state where they feel lost, wandering through deserted streets. The sudden appearance of the neon light represents an intrusion into their state of solitude.
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
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.
In a moment of clarity, the singer witnesses the state of society, where people are going through the motions without truly connecting with each other or sharing their innermost thoughts.
"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
The artist tries to wake people up from their mindless existence and offer guidance, but their words are ignored and fall on deaf ears.
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 whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
Finally, the people turn to a false idol represented by the neon light, rather than facing their own inner truths. The message that society needs to hear is not being shared, and so it is whispered in the silence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind