The Secrets of The Sound of Silence
There is no doubt that The Sound of Silence is one of the finest songs ever written. Simon and Garfunkel‘s masterpiece has thrilled and continues to mesmerize generations for more than half a century.
The Secrets of The Sound of Silence
A poignant melody and the magical vocal blend of the two artists manage to create a truly hypnotic and magical atmosphere.
The beautiful chord progression is accompanied by enigmatic lyrics that hide a deep meaning.
Paul Simon wrote the song when he was only 21 years old between 1963 and 1964 and the legend says that the artist composed it in the bathroom in the dark. Tiles created a particular echo that inspired the artist.
The song was written 3 months after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and many thought this event was the spark that inspired Paul Simon.
But Simon once said that he had dreamed of many people bowing to a god made of neon light.
The artist has therefore created the metaphor where the neon light is the television and the mass media in general and the humanity who bow in front of this technological idol that constantly influences our way of thinking.
And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more …
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
In the 1960s as today, society pushed us to be superficial. Governments with subtle control have divided us, filled our heads with useless things, and promoted individualism.
Superficial lonely people are more controllable than a thinking crowd.
Little by little, we lost the ability to listen and we focused only on ourselves.
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
This alienation has reached the present day and has been emphasized by social media. People prefer to chat on tinder than confront in person. By the way, Disturbed did one of the most beautiful covers of the song.
The sound of Silence is a modern song, its message is universal and even today after almost 60 years we can identify with these words.
Paul Simon wanted to wake up a society drugged by his own government … we still haven’t managed to get rid of this addiction but maybe in the future we will.
The Secrets of The Sound of Silence
A similarly themed song is Wrong Direction by Edgar Allan Poets.
The Sound of Silence (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
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”
Get Our T-Shirt!
Noir News
Reviews
