About the song
“The Sound of Silence” is a classic folk song by the American duo Simon & Garfunkel, composed by Paul Simon between 1963 and 1964. The song’s creation coincided with a period of national mourning in the United States following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This connection led many to believe that the song reflects the somber mood of the country during that time.
Originally recorded acoustically at Columbia Studios in New York City for their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” the song was later re-released with additional instrumentation by producer Tom Wilson. The revised version, featuring drums, bass guitar, and electric guitar, was released as a single in September 1965 and quickly gained popularity. By early 1966, “The Sound of Silence” had reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking a significant milestone for Simon & Garfunkel. The song was also included in their second album, “Sounds of Silence,” which was released the same year.
Interestingly, the song was originally titled “The Sounds of Silence” on their debut album. However, this was later changed to “The Sound of Silence” in subsequent releases, including the Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits album from 1972. The song’s enduring appeal is evident in its ranking as the 18th most performed song of the 20th century according to Broadcast Music, Inc., and its inclusion in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, where it was placed at number 157 in 2004.
In recognition of its cultural and historical significance, “The Sound of Silence” was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in March 2013, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Video
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”