Sound Of Silence

Words & Music:

Paul Simon

 

Am                     G                                   Am

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again.

C                    F      C                            F        C

Because a vision softly creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping.

        F                                C              Am

And the vision of that was planted in my brain still remains

C          G        Am

Within the sound of silence.

 

In restless streams I walked alone through narrow streets of cobblestone.

Beneath the halo of a streetlamp, I turned my collar to the cold & damp.

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light, split the night

And touched the sound of silence.

 

And in the naked light I saw 10,000 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.

 

"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 "That words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement walls."

And whisper in the sounds of silence.