Sound of Silence
Somon and Garfunkel 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
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"
The opening lines of Simon and Garfunkel’s song ‘Sound of Silence’ bring to the fore the recurring theme of the song, which is to convey the idea of alienation and disconnect in an urban environment. The lyrics, ‘Hello darkness, my old friend’ convey a tone of melancholy and resignation, as if the singer seeks comfort in the darkness that surrounds him. As the song progresses, the singer describes a vision that crept up on him while he slept and left behind a lingering feeling of emptiness. He then describes walking around deserted streets, cloaked in silence, until the silence is broken by the sound of a ‘neon light’.
The second verse continues the theme of disconnect in the midst of a crowd, as the singer notes the absence of meaningful communication among people. He observes that people are ‘talking without speaking’ and ‘hearing without listening’. The third verse turns increasingly didactic as the singer attempts to communicate his own ideas to the people around him. The lyrics, ‘Fools’ said I, ‘you do not know/ Silence like a cancer grows’ convey a sense of urgency and desperation as the singer is no longer content to simply observe the disconnectedness around him. However, his efforts to connect with people are unsuccessful as the song ends with the image of people bowing and praying to a ‘neon god’.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness, my old friend
The singer is acknowledging the presence of darkness, a recurring theme in his life.
I've come to talk with you again
The singer is opening up to his darkness and letting it in.
Because a vision softly creeping
The singer had a vision that appeared slowly and softly.
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
The vision left a lasting impression on the singer while he was asleep.
And the vision that was planted in my brain
The vision stayed with the singer and was embedded deep in his mind.
Still remains
The vision is still very much present and affecting the singer.
Within the sound of silence
The singer finds solace in the stillness and quiet, where he can hear his innermost thoughts.
In restless dreams I walked alone
The singer is constantly searching for something that he can't find, even in his dreams.
Narrow streets of cobblestone
The singer's journey is difficult and challenging, like walking on cobblestone streets.
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
The singer is searching for answers in the light, but is still surrounded by darkness.
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
The singer is trying to shield himself from the harsh reality of his situation.
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
The singer is confronted with a sharp, jarring reality that interrupts his search for meaning.
That split the night
The neon light is so bright that it seems to break through the darkness.
And touched the sound of silence
The neon light disrupts the quiet and stillness of the singer's inner world.
And in the naked light I saw
The singer is exposed to the harsh truth of reality without any illusions or pretenses.
Ten thousand people, maybe more
The singer sees a large crowd of people, but is still unable to find meaning or connection.
People talking without speaking
The people around the singer are having conversations, but not communicating anything of real substance.
People hearing without listening
The people around the singer are not really paying attention or trying to understand each other.
People writing songs that voices never share
The singer is aware of the futility of his own songwriting, since his message is lost on those around him.
No one dared
The people around the singer are too afraid to speak honestly or share their true thoughts and feelings.
Disturb the sound of silence
The quiet and stillness of the world around the singer is something that should not be upset or challenged.
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
The singer has lost patience with those around him and feels that they don't understand the world like he does.
Silence like a cancer grows
The lack of real communication and human connection is spreading like a deadly disease.
Hear my words that I might teach you
The singer is still trying to reach out and connect with others, to impart some wisdom or knowledge to them.
Take my arms that I might reach you
The singer is extending himself, offering help and support to those around him.
But my words like silent raindrops fell
The singer's words are falling on deaf ears, not making any real impact on the people around him.
And echoed in the wells of silence
The lack of communication and connection between people creates a deep well of emptiness and loneliness.
And the people bowed and prayed
The people around the singer are blindly following a false god, praying to it for answers and guidance.
To the neon god they made
The people around the singer have constructed a meaningless symbol to follow, worshiping the empty promises of consumerism.
And the sign flashed out its warning
The meaningless symbol the people are worshiping is sending out signals of warning and danger.
In the words that it was forming
The meaningless symbol is trying to communicate something, but it is something negative and harmful.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
The meaningless symbol is trying to usurp the role of real prophets, who speak truth to power and inspire change.
Are written on the subway walls
The real words of the prophets are found in unexpected places, like the graffiti on subway walls.
And tenement halls
Even in the poorest and most downtrodden parts of society, the words of the prophets can be found.
And whispered in the sounds of silence"
The true message of the prophets can only be heard in the silence and stillness of the inner world, where the noise and chaos of the outer world cannot drown it out.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elaineyee6700
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"
@Chelanirahul
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 shared
And 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 its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence.
(This is for those who want to read the lyrics while watching this video)
@ArthurSilva-hj1tv
O Som do Silêncio
Olá, escuridão, minha velha amiga
Vim conversar com você outra vez
Porque uma visão surgiu mansamente
Deixou suas sementes enquanto eu dormia
E a visão que foi plantada em meu cérebro
Ainda permanece
Dentro do som do silêncio
Em sonhos atormentados, eu caminhei sozinho
Ruas estreitas de paralelepípedos
Sob a luz de um poste de rua
Levantei minha gola contra o frio e a umidade
Quando meus olhos foram apunhalados pelo brilho de uma luz de neon
Que partiu a noite
E tocou o som do silêncio
E na luz nua eu vi
Dez mil pessoas, talvez mais
Pessoas falando sem dizer
Pessoas ouvindo sem escutar
Pessoas escrevendo canções que vozes jamais compartilharam
E ninguém ousava
Perturbar o som do silêncio
Tolos, eu disse, vocês não sabem?
O silêncio cresce como um câncer
Escutem-me, que talvez eu possa ensiná-los
Peguem meus braços, que talvez eu possa alcançá-los
Mas minhas palavras caíram como gotas silenciosas de chuva
E ecoaram nos poços do silêncio
E as pessoas se curvaram e rezaram
Para o deus de neon que elas criaram
E a placa mostrou o seu aviso
Nas palavras que formava
E a placa dizia
As palavras dos profetas estão escritas nas paredes do metrô
E nos corredores dos cortiços
E são sussurradas ao som do silêncio
@townstar1
I think: My Top Ten of all written songs. All are number one:
John Lennon - Imagine
The eagles - Hotel California
Simon & Garfunkel - Sound of silence
Elvis Presley - Jail House Rock
Michael Jackson - Billy Jean
Whitney Houston - I will always love you
Elton John - Candle in the wind
Bob Dylon - Like a rolling stone
Led Zepplin - Stairway to heaven
Jimi Hendrix - All along the watchtower
@mauriziomaranesi2720
E’ la canzone del complesso “Simon & Garfunkel”. Vedi testo in fondo. Si tratta di una visione: “a vision softly creeping / Left its seeds while I was sleeping”. Il suono del silenzio è il caotico frastuono dell’orrore che non si può esprimere a parole. E’ l’umanità vittima dell’abominio: “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”. La reazione del profeta è di avvertimento: “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”. Ma non c’è risposta: “But my words like silent raindrops fell / And echoed in the wells of silence”. L’umanità adora la divinità dell’abominio che essa stessa ha creato: “And the people bowed and prayed / To the neon god they made”. Ed è la divinità stessa dell’abominio che, per la disperazione del suo stesso inferno in cui essa stessa si è condannata trascinandovi anche l’umanità, cerca di salvare quest’ultima per avere essa stessa un’opportunità di salvezza: “And the sign flashed out its warning / In the words that it was forming”. Il suo messaggio è: “The words of the prophets / Are written on the subway walls / And tenement halls”. Quindi la salvezza può venire dai bassifondi, non certo dall’autorità costituita. Ma il messaggio di avvertimento è solo un sussurro nel frastuono dell’orrore che non si può esprimere: “And whispered in the sounds of silence”.
Alla fine è la Bestia stessa che invoca il karma dal quale ha sempre tentato di sfuggire. E’ la Bestia stessa che si rende conto di dover salvare l’umanità sua vittima per salvare se stessa. Ma le risponde il suono del silenzio.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
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
(febbraio 2022)
@user-tj7xt3ph1l
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 streetlamp
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."
@eastcumbriancollector983
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"
@papafico1402
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"
@margaretfarmer8184
When this song was at its height, my sister was 19 years old, dying from cancer. I was 17, and left school to spend a dreary winter with her in a Chicago hospital where they were doing experimental chemo. Late night, we'd order a pizza to be delivered to the ER in the basement, because nobody was allowed on the 8th floor cancer ward that late. We'd ride the elevator down and back, harmonizing this song together. She died too soon after that. I'm in my 70s now, but when I hear this song, I'm 17, in an elevator with great acoustics, holding a pizza, and singing my heart out with my best friend.
@dupedexplained1016
God bless you
@margaretfarmer8184
Thank you, God Bless you, too. I feel very blessed to have had those special times with her. In dying, she taught me so much about living.
@mikeatcora
Your memories made me want to connect through this, I take it that your beloved sister has been gone for over 50 years now as you're in your 70's now. I lost my only brother two years ago, he was 57 and much older than your sister was, I'm still wondering how it will feel for me to be older than he was, is that something that you ticked off as the years went by, the things you expected to learn from your sister that could never be about getting older. I find that I'm still confused by it all and now I'm 57, the same age as my brother was. It's obvious that you still miss her and feel how you did with her at that time, I hope my feelings don't fade away and stay with me as yours have for your sister.
Thanks for your posting.
@margaretfarmer8184
@@mikeatcora Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about your loss. In answer, yes, it was very strange when I became "older" than my older sister. The hardest part was when I became a mother and later, a grandmother, and she wasn't there to be an aunt. She would have been a much loved aunt. But in those joyful minutes I've felt her there with me, and it felt good. My kids never got to have cousins, and I regret that, but now their kids DO have cousins, and I share that joy. I wish you those joyful moments of your brother's presence, and hope it eases the painful times.
@powergrassp7769
god bless you
@peacebrothers9112
Anyone here in 2024?
@sawomirborowski-szwed8957
😉
@user-kv5sk1bg3n
Пентатоникс исполняет эту песню в сто раз лучше.
@karolynecordeirocarvalho6475
Yes