The "Silent Night" track consists of Simon and Garfunkel singing the first verse twice over, accompanied by Garfunkel on piano. The voice of the newscaster is that of Charlie O'Donnell, then a radio disc jockey. As the track progresses, the song becomes fainter and the news report louder.
The following events are reported in the order given:
A dispute in the House of Representatives over "the civil rights bill". It is stated that President Johnson had originally proposed a full ban on discrimination for any type of housing — dismissed as "having no chance" — and that "a compromise was painfully worked out in the House Judiciary Committee."
The death of comedian Lenny Bruce from an overdose of narcotics.
Dr. Martin Luther King reaffirming plans for an open housing Civil Rights march into Cicero, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. It is stated that Cook County sheriff Richard Ogilvie urged its cancellation, and that Cicero police plan to ask the National Guard to be called in.
The grand jury indictment of Richard Speck for the murder of nine [actually eight] student nurses.
Disruption by protesters at House Un-American Activities Committee hearings into anti-Vietnam War protests
A speech by "former Vice-President Richard Nixon" to the Veterans of Foreign Wars [actually to the American Legion] urging an increase in the war effort in Vietnam, and calling opposition to the war the "greatest single weapon working against the United States".
7 O'Clock News / Silent Night
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The recent fight in the House of Representatives was over the open housing
section of the Civil Rights Bill.
Brought traditional enemies together but it left the defenders of the
measure without the votes of their strongest supporters.
President Johnson originally proposed an outright ban covering discrimination
by everyone for every type of housing but it had no chance from the start
and everyone in Congress knew it.
In Los Angeles today comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an
overdoes of narcotics.
Bruce was 42 years old.
Dr. Martin Luther King says he does not intend to cancel plans for an open
housing march Sunday into the Chicago suburb of Cicero.
Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogleby asked King to call off the march and the
police in Cicero said they would ask the National Guard to be called out
if it is held.
King, now in Atlanta, Georgia, plans to return to Chicago Tuesday.
In Chicago Richard Speck, accused murderer of nine student nurses, was brought
before a grand jury today for indictment.
The nurses were found stabbed an strangled in their Chicago apartment.
In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the
House Committee on Un-American activities continued its probe into anti-
Viet nam war protests.
Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings when they began chanting
anti-war slogans.
Former Vice-President Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial
increase in the present war effort in Viet nam, the U.S. should look forward
to five more years of war.
In a speech before the Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New York,
Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single
weapon working against the U.S.
That's the 7 o'clock edition of the news,
Goodnight.
Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
The song "7 O'Clock News / Silent Night" by Simon & Garfunkel is a powerful juxtaposition of the news and a peaceful Christmas carol. The lyrics of the song were created by Paul Simon based on an idea that sprung from an accidental coincidence when he heard a radio news broadcast right before hearing the carol. The song begins with a solemn delivery of seven o'clock news in which an overdose-related death of a popular comedian, hearings of House Committee on Un-American activities into anti-Vietnam war protests, and the murders of nine Chicago nurses are reported. The newscast is followed by the serene and calming tune of "Silent Night" which emphasises the theme of peace and calm in the midst of chaos and violence.
The song is a commentary on the turbulent times of the 1960s in America, specifically tackling the Vietnam war, civil rights, drug use, and political unrest caused by the House Committee on Un-American activities. It highlights how even amidst such chaos and violence, people are seeking a peaceful and calm existence, just like the lyrics of "Silent Night." The contrast between the two is shocking and intended to wake people up to the harsh realities of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the early evening edition of the news.
Welcome to the early evening broadcast of the latest news.
The recent fight in the House of Representatives was over the open housing section of the Civil Rights Bill.
The House of Representatives recently had a heated argument about the part of the Civil Rights Bill that deals with open housing.
Brought traditional enemies together but it left the defenders of the measure without the votes of their strongest supporters.
This argument persuaded opponents of this law to vote in favor of it, but as a result, the supporters of the law lost the backing of their most committed followers.
President Johnson originally proposed an outright ban covering discrimination by everyone for every type of housing but it had no chance from the start and everyone in Congress knew it.
The President proposed a law that banned discrimination in housing in all situations, but everyone in Congress knew that such a proposition didn't have any chance of being enacted.
A compromise was painfully worked out in the House Judiciary Committee.
A deal on this matter was reached only after much difficulty in the House Judiciary Committee.
In Los Angeles today comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an overdoes of narcotics.
A comedian, named Lenny Bruce, died in Los Angeles today due to a drug overdose, at least that's what's assumed.
Bruce was 42 years old.
Lenny Bruce was 42 years old.
Dr. Martin Luther King says he does not intend to cancel plans for an open housing march Sunday into the Chicago suburb of Cicero.
Dr. Martin Luther King declared that he had no plans to cancel the schedule for a protest against discrimination in housing that was to occur on the next Sabbath in the Cicero suburb of Chicago.
Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogleby asked King to call off the march and the police in Cicero said they would ask the National Guard to be called out if it is held.
Richard Ogleby, the Cook County Sheriff requested King to scratch the demonstration and Cicero's police warned that they would call in the National Guard if it takes place.
King, now in Atlanta, Georgia, plans to return to Chicago Tuesday.
Dr. King presently in Atlanta, Georgia, proposes to return to Chicago the following Tuesday.
In Chicago Richard Speck, accused murderer of nine student nurses, was brought before a grand jury today for indictment.
Today, Richard Speck, the suspect of murdering nine student nurses, was indicted by a grand jury in Chicago.
The nurses were found stabbed an strangled in their Chicago apartment.
The murdered nurses were discovered strangled and with stabbing wounds in their apartment in Chicago.
In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American activities continued its probe into anti-Viet nam war protests.
In Washington today, the atmosphere was heavy with tension as a special group under the House Committee on Un-American Activities continued investigating anti-Vietnam war protests.
Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings when they began chanting anti-war slogans.
Protesters at the hearings were kicked out because they started chanting anti-war slogans.
Former Vice-President Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial increase in the present war effort in Viet nam, the U.S. should look forward to five more years of war.
Richard Nixon, the former Vice President, stated that if there's no significant escalation in current actions taken in the Vietnam war, the US should prepare itself for more than half a decade of war.
In a speech before the Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New York, Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single weapon working against the U.S.
During a talk at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Conference held in New York, Nixon also claimed that opposition to the war in the country is the most dangerous weapon currently undermining the US.
That's the 7 o'clock edition of the news,
That concludes the 7 o'clock broadcast of the latest news.
Silent night
Quiet night
Holy night
Sacred night
All is calm
Everything is serene
All is bright
Everything is well-lit
Round yon virgin mother and child
Near the virgin mother and her son
Holy infant so tender and mild
The immaculate baby, gentle and tender
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Rest quiet and peaceful in Heaven.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beth Bailey
on The Sounds Of Silence
Aragon Courts 1967