The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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"
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"
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by annacronism, Mahasquid, ashakitten4, DAIRYDAWG, sjaydeb, NonDiluted
The Sound Of Silence Lyrics as written by Paul Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a great song that I love, and it is very intelligent and poetic. The song uses the imagery of light and darkness to show how people's ignorance and apathy destroys their ability to communicate even on simple levels.
Its theme is man's inability to communicate with man. The author sees the extent of communication as it is on only its most superficial and "commercial" level (of which the "neon sign" is representative). There is no serious understanding because there is no serious communication - "people talking without speaking - hearing without listening". No one dares take the risk of reaching out ("take my arms that I might reach you") to disturb the sound of silence. The poet's (character in the song) attempts are equally futile (" . . . but my words like silent raindrops fell within the wells of silence"). The ending is an enigma. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence.
I think that this song is about a struggle to share and exchange MEANINGFUL ideas. The people “talking without speaking” and “hearing without listening” are too afraid to share their deep and personal ideas or consider the ideas of others. A person’s refusal to share or receive meaningful ideas dissuades others from sharing meaningful ideas, which leaves people isolated in their personal bubble of silence. When people are too afraid to open up and disturb their comfortable bubble of silence, all that is left for everyone to see is the neon light — the glaringly obvious and superficial. As for the ending, I think it is an anthropomorphized neon sign warning the silent people that “the words of the prophets”, or ideas that used to be incredibly meaningful, are “written on the subway walls and tenement halls” — are now written in crappy public places alongside posters, dirt, and graffiti. The meaning has been lost. The words and ideas they conveyed are now no more important than any other carelessly scribbled message. And yet, and yet. These important words are also “whispered in the sounds of silence”. I personally like to think this means that, though much of what we blather on about today in school, in the media, with our friends, ect... is not very meaningful, we DO still reach out to one another; people ARE still capable of sharing great ideas (as is required of great philosophers and inventors and builders) even if only in whispers. And perhaps one day, when someone has an idea which is very important to them, they will not feel too intimidated to open up and share that idea or have that idea challenged by someone else’s idea.
what a amazing explanation you gave about it. I had loved this song since 1979. I understood just simple statements. But now, It´s different. Thanks a lot. It´s the apology of ignorance. That was true yesterday. It´s the same today. Some wise man told that the ignorance is comfortable, living for the true is a risk
@MrMojoRisin5552 I think that a majority of the the responses to your interpretation of this are basically repeating your theory, in different words. yet they are clearly stating that they interpret the lyrics differently. with that being said, MY interpretation of those oppositionals ... that this is part of the problems this song speaks of .. the not listening ... just holding back until you finish the thought .. but actually hearing what was spoken. as for my point of view on the song.. the first of the ten commandments (shalt not worship false Gods/other Gods) is clear through out the song. and the end result leading to God's wrath which is really a destruction they created themselves by not paying attention to the signs written out clearly for them... obviously I agree with your analysis ... however .. to me it could be either faith related or a warning of a future here on earth if we continue down this selfish, close minded and outspoken path ... it's only leading to destruction and chaos and that only leads to more hate and anger. with or without God and religion the song holds true ... false praise or attention to neon Gods could be media feeding us only what they want us to know with subliminal ads and news reports ... leading to apathy, paranoia, and mistrust of our own. and to our own destruction
@MrMojoRisin5552 Thank you for your insightful thoughts. I think your interpretation looks like what is being said. I may have been trying to read something into it, and I missed it. :)
@MrMojoRisin5552 i love it<br /> thanks
@MrMojoRisin5552 I find myself in agreement with both your interpretation as well as the one that follows by @carabiner86 – I think they compliment one and other very well. <br /> <br /> I also find myself disagreeing vehemently with aspects of the first reply to your assessment, especially as I grew up listening to Simon & Garfunkel (my parents were both big fans, and I was born mid-70s), – I'm familiar not only with the music, but also the artists responsible for its creation. <br /> <br /> Regardless of the meaning, or perhaps because of it, I won't expand on my thoughts as I believe the personal relationship of music and individuals to be both important and somewhat "sacred." Even if an interpretation is "incorrect" by way of the artist's intent, the meaning gleaned from anyone else may be quite meaningful, and therefore "correct", to the person positing said theory.<br /> <br /> Moving on, and where this song is concerned: if it's one you love and haven't already heard it, do yourself the favor of listening to the version Paul Simon did on his own during his "Concert In The Park" in Central Park. It's widely available, and (pardon the caps) REALLY GREAT. I was at the show, and though it was when I was in junior high school and have seen many concerts both before and since by some of the greatest musical artists of our times (Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Madonna, Fiona Apple, Dave Matthews, Kenny Loggins, Etc...), that one in particular stands out as one of the "Top 5" very easily. His performance of several of the standards – in a few cases reimagined / reworked for that particular show – still raises the hair on my neck and takes my breath away sometimes when I listen again. The Boxer, S.o.S., Kodachrome, America, and Bridge Over Troubled Water stand out in that regard!)
PS: The irony of disagreeing with the first reply and what the reply specifically stated is not lost on me – and I agree enough with the reply's final sentence that it influenced my decision to keep my thoughts on it under wraps.
@MrMojoRisin5552 <br /> <br /> The poet is certainly commenting on a trend in music, media, television, advertising where deeper meaning/art is lacking, and he calls it the sound of silence. Talking without speaking, hearing without listening, songs unsung. He himself is unable to reach/communicate with the 10,000 people in his vision, who are worshiping the neon god. This is absolutely a theme of man being unable to communicate on a deep level with man, and of indivduals/ideas repressed by the status quo. Said god decrees that the words of the prophets are written on the ads/flyers plastering subway walls and buildings and whispered in sounds of silence.
@MrMojoRisin5552 <br /> Yet another wannabe ivy league zero adding their own 65 cents to a 2 cent narrative . <br /> <br /> This song, as complex as it may appear concerns several serious song writers and their grasp with mortality and the influences they have through life, with people and each other...be it positive or negative<br /> the end --- <br />
@MrMojoRisin5552 This song is about Autism. A friend of Paul Simon's had it, the condition fascinated him. Forever locked in a world where he could hear w/o listening, talk w/o communicating. It's a very touching tribute to an illness at a time when so little was known about autism.
@MrMojoRisin5552 There is so much truth to this song, especially in the world we live in today.
@MrMojoRisin5552 the neon sign reference comes immediately after the perspective that many people have turned to a created " neon God ". While your interpretation of light and dark, personal vs superficial communication, and other points are all very valid, neon signs do serve their purpose. His perspective, at the time, was that there was a loss of faith and he is communicating that everyone is similar, especially at night if they were in the character's shoes at the time. He is the one who is sort of lost in the Sounds of Silence, not everybody else. How could he possibly tell, at his age, that the conversations he was witnessing were meaningless to them ?
@MrMojoRisin5552 <br /> The end Of the song is not an enigma to me.<br /> <br /> And the people bowed and prayed<br /> To the neon god they made<br /> <br /> And the sign flashed out its warning<br /> In the words that it was forming<br /> (The fake god they made themselves where to go look)<br /> <br /> And the sign said, "The words of the prophets<br /> Are written on the subway walls<br /> (by their children)<br /> And tenement halls"<br /> (and the students)<br /> And whispered in the sounds of silence<br /> (and those that do not dare to speak up)<br /> <br /> (And still no one listens)
@MrMojoRisin5552 That's brilliant Mojo love what you have said....
@MrMojoRisin5552
I think the song is about a homeless war veteran who goes around preaching in the streets. He fought in Normandy perhaps in WW2, and now wanders the streets of 1960s NYC as a vagrant (lohl). Also, ofc it's about those closed minded people, that don't want to learn anything new, don't care to improve themself, or to think outside the box.
Those people should be cut from your life, and first perhaps beat them in a bout of fisticuffs. Then u can bruise their little ego<br />
@MrMojoRisin5552 Thank you for your beautiful interpretation
I interpret this song slightly different.
I feel it is an allusion to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave." While the ideas of commercialism (the people bow and pray to a neon god they made, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, etc) run throughout the poem, it also has to do with a frustration the narrator feels with humans in general. They are content to "hear without listening," not willing or interested in focusing on anyone or anything too intently. They are not willing to go beyond the superficial, but merely to accept the world around them, as no one "dares disturb the sounds of silence."
The allusion comes into play in the beginning, as the narrator has a revelation, a vision, that awakes him from this superficial, merely shadowed world. He rises, walks alone as the man in Plato's story did, and he sees the light. He tries to tempt others out of the cave of ignorance and look beyond teh surface of things, but his "words like silent raindrops" fall. His attempts are futile.
That's what I got out of the song, my two cents ^_^ An amazing song no matter how you interpret it!
carabiner86's interpretation of the song is extremely well written and brilliant. Its on the last post on the first page.
I like this interpretation. It seems that much literature may be described as 'a footnote to Plato'...
OK brand new to this site, and I see that already I must complliment a previous Replier person. Love your interpretation and agree whole-heartedly! Better late than never only ELEVEN YEARS SINCE YOU POSTED IT come on people, appreciate the arts!
@carabiner86 @carabiner86 <br /> I completely agree with this interpretation. I however believe strongly that it is not commercialism they worship per se. It is the country/government they have built, thinking it is free, yet they are deceived by its brainwashing messages of patriotism. Like uncle Sam's "I want you" posts for instance. I say so because I heard/read somewhere that the song was written during the time of Vietnam War. <br /> <br /> I also think it could differ a bit more. The vision's source is spiritual, which still remains within the "dream" i.e world they live in. In comparison to the materialistic people who although still aware of or familiar with spirituality existance, insist on bowing to the made god, and refuse to join the speaker away from the deception.
@carabiner86 I feel you hit right on. Makes perfect sense and truly relates. Makes the meaning most meaningful in my mind.
@Solo_guitarist I agree with you completely as well. Very well said both you and @carabiner86
The song sound of silence is a lyric that uses imagery and symbolism very heavily. The story of it is that the author has a dream about ten thousand people bowing to a god they made of neon light. The god represents the fake and shallow culture they are building on pop stars and the dollar bill. The media “talks without speaking” and the people “hear without listening” there is a cancer of silence which represents a widespred lack of meaning, in music namely. This is an extreemly well written poem and a good view on what is happening to the media. The so called artists are putting less and less art in their work.Their is mass prostitution of art happening in our culture and we all sit happily starring at the neon light and ignore the real art. I heard a good a good quote the other day i have eno idea who said it but I’ll close with it. “For the culture that tolerates shottyness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity and ignores excellence in plumbing because it is a humble activity. This is their fate. Neither their pipes nor it’s theories will hold water.”
I think considering that it is talking about a lack of meaning in media and "pop star culture", that is is also telling us that our society has become less open minded and more prone to assumptions and expectations.
@matty motto thanks for sharing that. It is impressive. I see a great relationship with a tv series called "black mirror", on episode 2 of the first season.
@matty motto PLEASE define "shottyness"<br />
@matty motto thanks for your interpretation
One of the very few songs that can bring me to tears.... I've always loved quoting parts of it to people, then interpreting it to them. (cause they usually don't get it!) Good music never grows old, that's what I've discovered...
@blackstarguitar I live your post awhile ago about Sound of Silence, have you seen Disturb's version WOW!
@blackstarguitar I agree, It makes me think of this incident during my Iraq deployment of a bus being blown up by a suicide bomber that was mostly filled with women and children, the smell of burnt flesh and body parts strewn about. I'm not sure if this is anywhere related to the songs meaning, but more a personal felling when I listen to it. Just horrible.
@blackstarguitar I agree with you, some movies make me cry, but this fantastic song always brings me to cry...
I think that this song is about a struggle to share and exchange MEANINGFUL ideas. The people “talking without speaking” and “hearing without listening” are too afraid to share their deep and personal ideas or consider the ideas of others. A person’s refusal to share or receive meaningful ideas dissuades others from sharing meaningful ideas, which leaves people isolated in a personal bubble of silence. When people are too afraid to open up and disturb their comfortable bubble of silence, all that is left for everyone to see is the neon light — the glaringly obvious and superficial. As for the ending, I think it is an anthropomorphized neon sign warning the silent people that “the words of the prophets”, or ideas that used to be incredibly meaningful, are “written on the subway walls and tenement halls” — are now written in crappy public places alongside posters, dirt, and graffiti. The meaning has been lost. The words and ideas they conveyed are now no more important than any other carelessly scribbled message. And yet, and yet. These important words are also “whispered in the sounds of silence”. I personally like to think this means that, though much of what we blather on about today in school, in the media, with our friends, ect... is not very meaningful, we DO still reach out to one another; people ARE still capable of sharing great ideas (as is required of great philosophers and inventors and builders) even if only in whispers. And perhaps one day, when someone has an idea which is very important to them, they will not feel too intimidated to open up and share that idea or have that idea challenged by someone else’s idea.
I agree!
All of the other comments are amazing and well thought out, but yours struck me the most. The song is not just a poem... its words AND music AND tone, and I think your analysis speaks to the overall feel of the song. Thanks for your imput. I love it.
for some reason i find this song to have a haunting and almost sinister sound. it is rather sad. i almost associate it with war and death for some unknown reason. Any ideas why?
Because it provokes self awareness and at the same time warns of waking up from the sleep of reason,otherwise monsters will be born.That is why it is creepy not to mention the other innuendos with the shalowness and the false gods.HUGE criticism towards human society.It seems that the author feels more secure hidden in darkness as between his own kind,as if he were right about spotting the evil among us..Ah and the neon god is the tv but nobody seemed to notice that.Anyway I find the author highly paranoid and contagious,war instigating really in a Jehovas Whitness kind of fashion.I am sure that nazism started up the same way paving the road to hell with good intentions and love for humanity.THAT IS WHY U FEEL LIKE THAT,U FEEL THE HATE
I think it's a very beautiful, but sad song. My interpretation is that it was written about how societies were more populated than there had ever been before - but also more deprived of reality and humanity than previous societies. It is a song about death - death of cultural capital and the warmth of genuine human interaction that comes with it. It's (unwittingly perhaps) referring to the monumental economic failures of the 20th century - where production of things and the GDP of nations exploded amongst the prevalence of commercialism/pop-culture etc, but the actual quality of people's lives was only marginally increased. In some ways humans were more active and alive than ever: just not in ways that were actually valuable to humans. Hence - sentiments of falsity, and the eerie feelings that come with exposure to hyper-reality. It seems to be a song about things that the author felt were missing from his society.
@Indi1994 Listen to Disturb's version and you can see and feel the darkness even further.
@Indi1994 You should definitely listen to Disturb's version of this song because it sounds, even more, darker but the vocals part is even more powerful and has strong feelings about it.
@Indi1994 a remake of this song suddenly came on in my queue of all videos about the start of the war in Israel (10/07/23). I had not put it there. It was a haunting rendition of the original and was so relevant to the situation at hand. It gave me the chills! In the video of the remake it is obvious that it is about war. It originated during the Vietnam war and I think that was the intent. I believe they are talking about how the world has not been communicating, talking and listening and the Sounds of silence may reflect the aftermath of war.
@Indi1994 a remake of this song suddenly came on in my queue of all videos about the start of the war in Israel (10/07/23). I had not put it there. It was a haunting rendition of the original by Disturb and was so relevant to the situation at hand. It gave me the chills! In the video of the remake it is obvious that it is about war. It originated during the Vietnam war and I think that was the intent. I believe they are talking about how the world has not been communicating, talking and listening and the Sounds of silence may reflect the aftermath of war.
My Verse by verse interpretation:
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
~ Hello Enlightened people, To me, this song also represents the improper communication with our mind. Our mind is The sound of silence. It is ON when you close ur eyes. It has to be listened, respected to believe and followed. As the writer did, and we get this ultimate song.
In restless dreams I walked alone Narrow streets of cobblestone Beneath 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
~ Now we open our eyes. We look everywhere around us. We switch on our TV. We get majority of our thoughts from Screens(TV/Movies) i.e. Neon god. We fill ourself with thoughts of People, Lifestyle, War, Fashion, Money, Cars,etc. This makes our mind ponder to a thought.
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 And no one deared Disturb the sound of silence
~ When we watch TV, we find that we try to follow it in our life to completeness. We follow it even though its fake and manipulated to fulfill some person's financial needs. In screens, Actors just speak lines. In screens, Actors just hear lines. In screens, Actors dont express their actual thoughts. Everyone is afraid to touch what one's mind feels like speaking. They are mere spectators, powerless and hollow from inside. As they dont touch their own mind(sound of silence). So we follow them too by being spectators and powerless in our life too. We dont touch our what our mind(sound of silence) say.
"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
~ The writer here ask us to act(Hear my words,take my arms). Because if we keep only following screens and dont listen to our own mind(sound of silence) Then we will run after things dictated by screens our whole life. We have no idea why we are doing that way and complain till end. Because we have no idea what we really want and where our happiness lies. Thats why everyday, we feel so hollow inside. This hollowness(cancer) grows bigger and bigger.
But still nobody wants to touch that sound of silence(mind) We look out for solution even though every solution is inside us. We dont listen, we just hear it. and its accumulated in the sound of silence(mind) which we never listen.
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 signs said the words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sounds of silence
~ But still we go on with our screens(Neon god). Neon god laughs here and says to the writer "Throughtout ages, all the prophets of all the religions have been saying the same things. Earlier it was kings then society, now its screens. Their have found their place in outside world only (on walls and books) not inside (the mind). If they werent successful, where do you stand? You will also find yourself at the same place i.e. outside the mind"
Thats why millions may have listened to the songs. Thousands have sung. Hundreds have interpreted it. But very few will follow it even then. We will still follow our neon gods, And not listen to our sound of silence. Thus this song will hold significance till mankind remains, and we will just laugh at this paradox.
@shiningdead <br /> I love the last lines you said. The ones about the paradox, it's sad but true. I just wrote a interpretation of this song and ours are nothing alike but they're both true in there own way. Or maybe just Personal Opinion.
I think you provide a good interpretation for 2016, however, since this song was written many years ago, the interpretation you give is a little gray. The basic meaning of this song is completely about how mankind has disconnected from humanity. The neon God they speak is a representation of the new God much like the Golden calf in biblical times, a false God if you will. Mankind has lost the ability to verbally communicate. "Writing on the subway walls" on tenement halls" this is how people get their information now, not from other men and women. It is so sad that we as humans rely so heavily on technology to communicate now. The disconnection of humans from humanity will be our downfall.
Another interpretation, the song is about a homeless WW2 veteran with PTSD who fought in Normandy. "Narrow streets of cobblestone", "eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light". People who have seen combat will sometimes say that they'll have flashback dreams, and possibly have a dream of the moment it happened. The narrator is thus a homeless WW2 veteran who travels the streets of NYC preaching to peoples. It's also about those people who don't think outside the box. The kind of people who just accept everything for what it is, like "uhuhu well smart people said it so it must be true, uhuhu. The kind of people who aren't willing to improve themself, or take advice from someone. Kind of people who can't see between the lines, or cross reference so to speak. Or who, don't want to, don't care to. A lot of people walking around are a bunch of zombies. A good 30% of people lohl. Just husks that go around serving people like little lapdogs. Whatever they can do to get some validation
@shiningdead beautiful interpretation. Thank you
so some guys at blender magazine happen to be tone deaf... poor blokes... they're talking without speaking, they're hearing without listening... This song is so definitely on my list of top 5 all time greats... its incredibly relevant in our lives
People need to stop posting "I'm only __ years old and I love this song!" It doesn't make you sound any more mature or any cooler so stop trying.
@myusik - The thing is this - People need to stop saying "People need to stop...." <br /> <br /> OOPS I did it didn't I. shit I have to stop doing that.
This song is definitely about how people can't communicate and everyone is so content in their own little world that they don't bother to look around once in a while.. i just don't really understand the last verse about what the signs said.
@mYoOsIc Is LiFe
@mYoOsIc Is LiFe long haired freaky people need not apply. Hey I hope you're around still and staying well...it has been seventeen years!