Analysis of the Song “the Sound of Silence”

Analysis of the song “The Sound of Silence”

By Simon and Garfunkel

The song “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel was released in 1965, but it was never intended to be a hit single. The duo broke up after their first album was released. Their U.S. producer Tom Wilson was inspired by electric sound that was becoming popular by Bob Dylan and added bass, electric guitar and drums to the original track of “The Sound of Silence.” The song became more folk rock and went number one on the pop charts, so the duo decided to reunite. Simon and Garfunkel included the new version of the song on their 1966 album “Sounds of Silence.” Each line of the song conveys complex, but yet meaningful words. The song “The Sound of Silence” propelled the duo into stardom. The folk scene would continue throughout the rest of the decade and it became more political, because of the Vietnam War. Paul Simon wrote the song in the ‘60s when there were dangerous excesses and the country was in cultural chaos. Simon wrote the song in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy assassination. He wanted to capture the emotional trauma felt by many Americans after the sudden death of a vigorous and visionary leader. The song has showed up in many movies where an important public figure had died. The song gives insight to how one man feelings meet those of others and hints about religion. In 2004 The Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it number 156 on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. According to BMI it is the 18th most performed song of the 20th century. There are many way to analyze the song “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel.

According to Mike Jahn’s the story of Rock from Elvis to the Rolling Stones, the song “The Sound of Silence” is “man’s inability to communicate with man…” (168). The lyrics: “People talking without speaking / People taking without listening”, tells of the lack of communication between people. People talk to other people, but none of them really listens to each other, “But my words like silent raindrops fell / And echoed / In the wells of silence”. Throughout the song it shows how although people talk to others, they do not say what they really feel. People keep their feelings inside of them, because no one will truly listen to them. Everyone is so wrapped up in their own world, that they do not take the time just to listen. Nowadays people communicate though the internet. They lose the significance of talking to someone face to face. There is no real connection anymore. The opening line “Hello darkness, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again”, brings you into the world of someone that is all alone. It refers to the effects of ongoing psychological suffering. This is what a person has come to, by talking to their self. This person is abandon