The Sound of 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