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Simon & Garfunkel — The Sound of Silence
Album: The Sounds of Silence
Avg rating:
9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5307









Released: 1966
Length: 3:02
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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 walk 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
And 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 signs said, 'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
Comments (404)add comment
 philonair wrote:

I saw Simon and Garfunkel in 2004 in Cologne/Germany. It was the most wonderful concert i ever was. Goose flesh was guaranteed! In The break the Everly Brothers played! All in all it was an unforgettable evening! And I´ve been to many concerts in my life,




A lovely share, thank you our friend.
Fantastic and what a great album too.
Thanks Bill.
My gosh, this must be the first time I've heard this on RP. I know it must be the first time because it was unrated. I couldn't hit the 10 fast enough.
GREAT TUNE!!  Back in '66, my friend's older brother used to sing this as: The Sound of Sinus. LOL!
 acolt wrote:

This: 8.
Disturbed: 9. 

Now start downvoting.

I'm an upvoter of your comment. 
I've actually got both tracks at a 10, though I do enjoy hearing Disturb's cover more, it has more grit and urgency, and the video of their cover adds another element too, almost enough to go "full 10"; LLRP!!
 grandemarch wrote:

The slower Central Park version is even better




They are BOTH EXCELLENT!!  Thanx RP!  
I knew this was going to be popular but I don't quite get the 9.  It's always struck me as just solid "good".  Some of Simon & Garfunkel's other more eclectic sounds are definitely way up there at 8s and 9s.
The slower Central Park version is even better
That was a very sweet segue from Dido.
I saw Simon and Garfunkel in 2004 in Cologne/Germany. It was the most wonderful concert i ever was. Goose flesh was guaranteed! In The break the Everly Brothers played! All in all it was an unforgettable evening! And I´ve been to many concerts in my life,


imagine singing this in 8th grade chorus class 

i still cant harmonize
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.


 
idiot_wind reels in another fish.


Thanks idiot_wind for putting a smile on everyone's face.  All coworkers in the office are rolling with laughter over your Arcade Fire comment.  You can't make this stuff up.  
This Song is on every radiostation in Germany. It feels like it's everywhere. You cannot escape. You can run, but ...it's planted in your brain
You know RP has a fine audience when this song has an average rating of 9.
This: 8.
Disturbed: 9. 

Now start downvoting.
HOW ABOUT PLAYING OTHER TUNES FROM THIS ICONIC ALBUM!!!
 dwhayslett wrote:




OMG - for a moment there I thought this was real... xD
This song was so overplayed when it was released that I actually got sick of it. Finally, I am able to listen to it with admiration again.
There are no words 'and' this album survived both of my divorces and I still have it!
10
Paul Simon was writing this and these guys were doing this amazing song in 19 frickin' 66. Enjoy your cover versions, I'll take the original.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.


 
idiot_wind reels in another fish.

That's a fairly charitable interpretation of windy's long-running fixation.
 lizardking wrote:
I'm sure someone else has already mentioned the Disturbed cover of this.  Somehow this seems to work well for me on this great classic tune. https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4
 
The ‘Disturbed’ cover is incredible
Love this, but also like the cover by Disturbed.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.

idiot_wind reels in another fish.

Yoink!
c.
 VH1 wrote:

..and the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made....

this was never truer than today... and they wrote this in 66...

such a foresight...




We didn't get here overnight. The wheels have been turning a long, long time.
 cayenne wrote:



 Decoy wrote:

Well to be fair 2017 has been kinder than 2016, to this point at least. 



Ah. Back when we were young and blissfully naive. 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.


 
idiot_wind reels in another fish.


How is it that this person does not know who Don Adams and Lindsey Buckingham are?
Thanks to RP we can escape the sounds of silence that Covid-19 has brought around us.
No better.  Period! 
And to those who rate songs, if this is not a 10, there are NO 10's!
actually at least an 11
idiot_wind wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.

saloutwest wrote:

Are you 12? You might try looking at the date, they were trailblazers, this album came out well before any members of Arcade Fire or even born. And if you ask any of those members they would probably tell you they have nothing but deep respect for these two gentlemen.
 
idiot_wind reels in another fish.
..and the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made....

this was never truer than today... and they wrote this in 66...

such a foresight...
The live version from the concert in Central Park may be even better. You can hear the good vibes from the crowd.
No denying this is a classic.  Resonates 50 years later.  And the Disturbed version is ok but unlike Johnny Cash/Hurt or Ryan Adams/Wonderwall, Simon & Garfunkel still own this one.
I like disturbs version a lot better
Bill - you listened to NPR this morning, didn't you?
sorry to disagree. It's a 10!

rommesw wrote:
Reason I give it only a "9" is, that Paul wrote a few songs even better than this ...

 

 jmsmy wrote:
This song is perfect for Heavy Metal covers.

 
Which still are outnumbered by punk covers by far...
Reason I give it only a "9" is, that Paul wrote a few songs even better than this ...
"Old School" and Will Ferrell ruined this song for me, in the best way possible.
Paul, don't ever die.
This song is perfect for Heavy Metal covers.
 CrispyDruid wrote:
One of the few bright points of 2016, is that it marks another year where this track remains without any cover versions. #denial
 
Well to be fair 2017 has been kinder than 2016, to this point at least. 
Perfection = 10

I'm sure someone else has already mentioned the Disturbed cover of this.  Somehow this seems to work well for me on this great classic tune. https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4

 


 admascott wrote:
who rates this song a 1?
 
Me. I had to mute it to write this. The best word I can come up with to describe this dirge, is 'twoddle'.
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Quite good I suppose, but not as good as the original version from Disturbed!

 
original version??

 
Quite good I suppose, but not as good as the original version from Disturbed!
AH! redemption!!! after that hideous X ambassadors rubbish
One of the few bright points of 2016, is that it marks another year where this track remains without any cover versions. #denial
 Gajdzin wrote:
I would give it 10 if only they didn't sing so horribly out of key in some places. I could never figure out how could the producer allow this in a studio. If this was live I could forgive it, but in a studio?


goozer321 wrote:

Different days, Gajdzin, different days.

No auto-tune then. 

 
T-Bone Burnett once said that we have machines today that can produce perfect music but no one seems to care for it much
 markybx wrote:

Some people just don't get ironic humor {#Cheers}

 
Irony may be defined as that which people miss (Julian Barnes). 
 idiot_wind wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.   

 
Some people just don't get ironic humor {#Cheers}
Hello, friend. Hello, darkness, my old friend. That's lame. Maybe I should give you a name. But that's a slippery slope. You're only in my head. We have to remember that.
You win the internet for this post!!!  {#Cheers}

dwhayslett wrote:


 



 ayohn wrote:
should try Disturbed's version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4&ab_channel=Disturbed

 
Very good version, powerful with feeling.

 

Highly endorsed by Paul Simon after they performed live on Conan:

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-simon-disturbed-sound-of-silence/

 

 


{#Smile}
 idiot_wind wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.   

 
the name of the post above says it all! UN FRIGGING BELIEVABLE  Hey idiot, guess who came first??LMAO 
two immortals surrendering themselves to this song; paul reaching for the street in dylans delivery, bobby reaching for the heaven in pauls.  for the song.    . . respect, admiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U59G_oO7yI
I might be wrong on this—because sarcasm is hard to read in this format—but I believe that person was being facetious and is well aware that Simon & Garfunkel were making music well before Arcade Fire.

saloutwest wrote:

Are you 12? You might try looking at the date, they were trailblazers, this album came out well before any members of Arcade Fire or even born. And if you ask any of those members they would probably tell you they have nothing but deep respect for these two gentlemen.

 


 heyjoe3577 wrote:
I'm trying to rate this one '11' - not working!

 
{#Yes}
I'm trying to rate this one '11' - not working!
should try Disturbed's version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4&ab_channel=Disturbed
 idiot_wind wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.   

 
Are you 12? You might try looking at the date, they were trailblazers, this album came out well before any members of Arcade Fire or even born. And if you ask any of those members they would probably tell you they have nothing but deep respect for these two gentlemen.
 admascott wrote:
who rates this song a 1?

 
Even the braindead can work a keyboard to get to RP.  Have pity on them
Can't help but think of "The Graduate" and the whole alienation angst of the seventies that nearly killed me
Can't help but think of "The Graduate" and the whole alienation angst of the seventies that nearly killed me
 
 LinThizzy wrote:
Always makes me said to recall that I was told the complete wrong interpretation the meaning of this song as a child..
It would have been nice to have had an honest discussion about the true facts of the world when I was young. 
 
You are leaving me hanging. What was this "complete wrong interpretation?" 
Always makes me said to recall that I was told the complete wrong interpretation the meaning of this song as a child..
It would have been nice to have had an honest discussion about the true facts of the world when I was young. 
who rates this song a 1?
{#Whistle}
 idiot_wind wrote:
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.   

 
I wonder who is copying who?! {#Roflol}
Boy oh boy...these guys (whoever they are) are just copying the band, Arcade Fire.   
Porcupine Tree to S&G
wtf
Nice transition RP!
Stingray,

Your mother is calling from the main floor.   
 toonces wrote:
Still great after all these years...

 
To look back at this gem from a grandpa's perspective, as if it were a newly polished  antiquity is nothing but ridiculous and pathetic!

A comment from 70-plus year old conservative!

To have nothing to say about this pearl but this...?

SAD...!!!

 
My first 15!
Still great after all these years...
What's there problem with rhythm here??
Anyone knows why they let it recorded like this? Horrible rhythm!!!!!!!!
The version without the overdubbed drums is the 10, so this one is a 9.
The drum-less version is in the RP library. 
This one goes to 11.

This one brings me back to the Chiloé archipelago in southern Chile.  An Argentine friend played it on a cassette player in his Peugot 504.  Late 1970s.
 DaveInVA wrote:
Are they singing "The words of the subway are written on the proffits balls"? {#Stupid}

 
That would probably be Prophet's, and since they clearly say "subway walls" it is strongly suggested you get some closed caption device.  {#Cheesygrin}
 ricerubberrolls wrote:
this is absolutely astounding

 
 it is
this is absolutely astounding
Porcupine Tree to this track rendered Curly and the Midget a tad errr wimpy?
Lovely, Thank you.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
{#Bananapiano}  Godlike x 2
 
Exactly so!
I gave it a 10 back in 67 when I heard this on the radio heading to NC (from Tn) to buy beer as a 19 yr old, cause their drinking age was just 18, yet only 3.2 beer, for those of you who know what I mean.
This the only song that I hear on RP where I look for the possibility of an "11" rating. 
{#Bananapiano}  Godlike x 2
Are they singing "The words of the subway are written on the proffits balls"? {#Stupid}
#1 song the year I was born.
According to the story I heard on the CBC recently, the original acoustic version of this song was a flop when it was released. A producer took the song back into the studio and overdubbed drums and electric guitar. (He did so without S&G's knowledge or approval because they were "no longer a working duo.") The studio re-released it and, well ...
 DrLex wrote:

Why does it need to be perfect? Perfection is boring. Therefore it sucks. Therefore it is not perfect. I think this song is perfect enough not to be perfect.

  

Sometimes people sing harmony with a perfection that that machines cannot measure.
 The strings are superb..give em a 10   Gajdzin wrote:
I would give it 10 if only they didn't sing so horribly out of key in some places. I could never figure out how could the producer allow this in a studio. If this was live I could forgive it, but in a studio?

 



 Gajdzin wrote:
I would give it 10 if only they didn't sing so horribly out of key in some places. I could never figure out how could the producer allow this in a studio. If this was live I could forgive it, but in a studio?
 
Why does it need to be perfect? Perfection is boring. Therefore it sucks. Therefore it is not perfect. I think this song is perfect enough not to be perfect.
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html
 Gajdzin wrote:
I would give it 10 if only they didn't sing so horribly out of key in some places. I could never figure out how could the producer allow this in a studio. If this was live I could forgive it, but in a studio?
 
Different days, Gajdzin, different days.

No auto-tune then. 
Porcupine Tree - Halo 

What an odd segue...

 Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence


1964, first teenage love with the pain of it ending - then there was this and also the Statler Brothers Counting Flowers on the Wall. Hearing this song always takes me back. Used to be a 10 plus but now I have heard it to much. Down to a 7
I would give it 10 if only they didn't sing so horribly out of key in some places. I could never figure out how could the producer allow this in a studio. If this was live I could forgive it, but in a studio?

Everybody in my church loves this great classic...
 
Just came to check and make sure this was a 10... Yup.
 christopherwoods wrote:
I've reached my tolerance level for this track on RP, regrettably. This needs to be retired for a while, it's been spun a bit too often in the past few months for it to retain its poignancy (for me at least). And it's January, that's depressing enough on its own!
 
You grump!  At least it's warm!
Can't beat some SImon and Garfunkel, classic. 10/10.
I've reached my tolerance level for this track on RP, regrettably. This needs to be retired for a while, it's been spun a bit too often in the past few months for it to retain its poignancy (for me at least). And it's January, that's depressing enough on its own!
WOW!  This song is VERY special to 990 of us {#Sunny}{#Notworthy}
I got completely sick of this piece until I heard it (under protest) from a bamboo flute walking down from the Warmiwanuska Pass in Peru near Cusco.
5*
100%
FcknA
Really excellent.
#1 song the year I was born.
stop spying on me...
RP has to be turned up every time it's played.
 danuneken wrote:
It sure is losing its appeal with time.

 
Not for me.  It becomes more and more poignant and meaningful every time I hear it.
thanks !!!!