This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman Aaron Pauley. “It's about comforting a loved one in a time of loss by telling them you feel blue, too.”
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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@Kahiara Actually I think the husband passed away,
"She sang for you last night
She heard you were calling"
Many people say they have felt, heard, or seen their loved ones after they have passed.
"Don't be scared now
Close your eyes
She holds guard tonight
Go on forward no remorse
Life will take it's course"
This is said to the late husband by a third part (never named), who encourages him to pass on. Because life will eventually continue. The phrase "holds guard" refers to the ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… ) which is a Christian ceremony held after someone dies. Now it is usually held right after the funeral, but in most celtiic countries the wake is held before the funeral.
"She danced with you last night so you will remember
All you have shared, a lifetime."
This sentence feels as if the only thing it wants to convey is their history together, namely, husband and wife. For the rest it just refers back to the first verse.

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This song is timeless, and nearly 20 years after its creation, still possesses the mystique it did the first time i heard it ~1994. To me, at first blush, all those years ago, it had some kind of homo-erotic allure. The line "so that the others may do" tells of something which must be done for others to follow suit. It felt like like some kind of roxy-glam-pop invitation to sexual liberation.
Upon further introspection I think the song may not have an intrinsic meaning, but simply represents a sort of "holding open the door" for people who otherwise might be affronted by this song/band's unusual style. I know, as a sort of armchair rock-historian, that there have been few bands so daring and so true to the sound that wanted to emerge from within, whether the creator wanted it or not. This band handled it with elegance and grace seldom, if ever, seen.

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This song is Swift's response to the negative reputation the media has given her.
"I can make the bad guys good for a weekend" - the bad guys are the paparazzi to Swift, but are good to the "player" since association with Swift immediately gives publicity. Any publicity is good publicity and Swift knows this.
"You can tell me when it's over" - the tabloids rumor relationships are over before the couple announces it officially.
With this song Swift is portraying the way she is portrayed by the media.
It is a sarcastic jab at how she views herself and how her "ex-lovers" only wanted to be with her to increase their fame.
I applaud the brilliance in writing about how you always write about relationships.
It is expected so Swift is giving the media what they want and profiting off the attention.

MAZZA
slowthai & A$AP Rocky
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This track is the first official collaboration between the rappers. It was produced by SAMO, slowthai himself & Kwes Darko. The track was released on January 5, 2021, in anticipation of his latest studio album titled "TYRON".
thanks
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.
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.
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!)
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.
Yet another wannabe ivy league zero adding their own 65 cents to a 2 cent narrative .
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
the end ---
The end Of the song is not an enigma to me.
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
(The fake god they made themselves where to go look)
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
(by their children)
And tenement halls"
(and the students)
And whispered in the sounds of silence
(and those that do not dare to speak up)
(And still no one listens)
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.
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.
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.
OOPS I did it didn't I. shit I have to stop doing that.