The Sounds of Silence [#]

Simon&Garfunkel’s prophetic vision of a modern fragmented society of isolated people, alluding to Psalm 135:

The song’s narrator has received prophesy, in an essentially passive process: “Because a vision softly creeping / Left its seeds while I was sleeping / And the vision that was planted in my brain.” The narrator is like a prophet, a recipient of knowledge that he does not claim to have created.

In fact, the song expressly mentions prophets: “And the sign said, ‘The words of the prophets / Are written on the subway walls / And tenement halls.’ / And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.” In this modern society (of “neon lights” and “the neon god”), the words of prophets are overlooked and relegated to below-ground graffiti (“subway walls”) and destitute (“tenement halls”) – just as prophets were overlooked in past societies.

The prophecy is similar/allusive to Psalm 135:

Song: "People talking without speaking, / People hearing without listening". Compare to Psalm 135: “They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear”. Not exactly the same words, but certainly similar ideas.

Song: “And the people bowed and prayed / To the neon god they made.” Compare to Psalm 135: “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. . . . Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.”

Yet the narrator is a prophet who can’t reach his audience: “’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 so the song itself is a plea to break through the silence and finally reach is audience. Unable to otherwise reach them, he has crafted this melodic plea.… Does it work? That depends on us, the audience…. Is it possible that we hear and appreciate the words and melody, while missing the larger ideas? Or, in some cases, does this song help to actually break through the silence and resonate to convey its message? Either way, it’s a brilliant song….

It's a song written entirely on metaphor and it is that way because unconscious beliefs and perceptions of heavily regulated political society is always felt under the skin ,but at times dismissed ,because of fear of reprisal or fear on uncertainty .When something feels wrong you know it,but others may blindly follow without clarity . This is where he mentions restless dreams and walking alone ,uncertain on the cobblestone path until the epiphany of such a neon light of graffiti and artist songs reaching out showing the same problems and freedoms absconded by the regulation he is experiencing ,or more to the point he is actually speaking of each soul who observes the issues not just one person ,man or woman .The message of a failure of an expansion of love and consciousness by tyranny is shared but now the observer finally see it in such shadows and under handedness in the actions of others ,as songs and graffiti .These are the sounds of silence ,silence has no sound in this case ,until it is expressed by simple action ,then it is visible .

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

He is to say he even though he is awakening ,the subconscious still wrestles with his new found insight because of societal programming

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 No one dared Disturb the sound, of silence

He sees others have disillusions as well they have sent the signals through action of song ,and expression ,vandalism etc .They speak and say more with action but dont stare the wolf in the face .

"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 subway walls represent the forgetfulness of the value of one and each member of society,they write poetry about the experiences of hollowness and lack of a feeling of dignity ,the messages are a cry and the bleeding and wounding of wisdom in the society. Tenement hall is the perception of an entity which is confined ,tenement is a perception of the idea of an area but confined within walls ,so in sense it is a prison without physical walls ,one built upon heavy regulation.He tries in vain with some to express himself but finds that mostly the light messages of sounds of silence are to be seen but not talked about -Fools," said I, "You do not know