This heartfelt song was originally written by Simon as “The Sounds of Silence.”
“The main thing about playing the guitar was that I was able to sit by myself and play and dream,” Simon later told Playboy. “And I was always happy doing that. I used to go off in the bathroom, because the bathroom had tiles, so it was a slight echo chamber. I’d turn on the faucet so that water would run – I like that sound, it’s very soothing to me – and I’d play. In the dark. ‘.’”Hello darkness, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again
Simon explained the song’s appeal, which was retitled “The Sound of Silence” on later compilations. “The key to ‘The Sound of Silence’ is the simplicity of the melody and the words, which are youthful alienation,” he explained. “It’s a young lyric, but not bad for a 21-year-old. It’s not a sophisticated thought, but a thought that I gathered from some college reading material or something. It wasn’t something that I was experiencing at some deep, profound level – nobody’s listening to me, nobody’s listening to anyone – it was a post-adolescent angst, but it had some level of truth to it and it resonated with millions of people.”
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 risks 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 song ends with the right words. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence. Basically, it's a song about modernity and the ironic effects of mass communication tools to isolate people. This song is a perfect reminder for people to be awakened and be wary of what they believe in, especially the things in social media. Simon and Garfunkel have done their best to create such beautiful music as well as integrate great values in them.
