About the song
“The Sound of Silence” is a timeless masterpiece that has captivated audiences for generations. Written by Paul Simon, this iconic song has become an integral part of American music history. The song’s origins date back to 1964, when Simon & Garfunkel recorded an acoustic version for their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. However, it was the remixed electric version released in 1965 that catapulted the song to international fame.
The song’s journey to success was not without its twists and turns. Initially, the acoustic version failed to generate significant sales, leading to a disappointing debut for the duo. However, the growing popularity of the song at radio stations in Boston and Florida caught the attention of producer Tom Wilson, who decided to remix the track, adding electric instruments and drums. The remixed version was released as a single in September 1965, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The song’s success was meteoric, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying there for a week. The duo’s second album, Sounds of Silence, was hastily recorded to capitalize on the song’s popularity, and the remixed single version was included on the album. The song’s impact was not limited to the music world; it was also featured in the 1967 film The Graduate, cementing its place in popular culture.
Over the years, “The Sound of Silence” has been recognized for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance, earning a spot on the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress in 2012. The song has been included in various compilations, including Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits, and continues to be celebrated as a classic folk rock song that transcends generations.
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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”