These lyrics are deep. The fact that you have such a curious mind that you want to know more means you're intelligent, the opposite of being stupid. To me, this song is about feeling alienated by our shallow society, where you can't get in touch with others, or even with yourself. We are separated by the media and commercialism, which is even more true today than it was when the song was written. I love Disturbed's version because it's just raw and angry. The original is sweet and folksy, but after nobody paid attention to the warning contained in the song for almost 60 years, it's time to rage about it.
I like your impression of this song. Its legit. But the reality of the song is based in HISTORY. I wish every young person would watch movies and listen to music from the 60's on forward. There's benefits to this: You bosses will think you're with them when you can identify what THEY grew up to... and knowing History is the SMARTEST thing any young person can do. This song was written for the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Did you not hear "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and TENEMENT HALLS"? Simon and Garfunkul sang this hit in 1965, in the midst of the MASSIVE change in American consciousness. The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the "power of the Man" keeping you "down" (can't smoke a joint, or you be in jail!". In 1971, I was in HS, and the girls couldn't wear PANTS. THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE LA AREA! The boys couldn't wear TSHIRTS, you had to have a COLLAR, and your hair could not be long enough to go over that collar. THINK ABOUT THAT, YOUNG MILLS. Those rights didn't exist for us. Then the Era of Flower Power, Hippies, Rock n Roll, Folk music and the explosion of incredible insights to these issues. What do you kids listen to today? Computer music? Got me some big Green? I gotta talk about myself? Girls gotta show their booty to be legit? Not all of your music is this way, but you gotta pick what makes your soul sing, not what the MAN who wants your money "builds" without a soul, to take advantage of your youthful biological urges, exploiting your weaknesses and your intelligence by selling "enjoy yourself today, sell your soul to get cool and lit:" while they get rich on your sad sinking into the morass of ignorance. Ask Cardi B how she feels now about her participation and being sucked into that machine of destruction. Sounds of Silence was about TAKING ACTION. And NOT ON TIKTOK or some social media site. TALK FACE TO FACE. BE KIND. SEE THE REWARDS OF SPEAKING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE. That's what this song is about.
Please don't call yourself stupid. I'm so impressed on how you are thorough in trying to help us (me) understand the meaning of this song. I love the way you appreciate the music from way back from the 60's and it's the music that I loved and hadn't heard in many years. Thank you :)
It’s still relevant today because no one listens, hears, or communicates anymore. How loud to silence when no one speaks. This song is over 50 years old.
Looking back on my experiences in the 60's and fast forwarding to now... My perception of the meaning of the original song by SImon and Garfunkel was that technology (at that time the television) was creating a society that didnt allow for as much personal communication. That the conversations at the dinner table and visiting with friends was slowly being replaced by gathering around the TV. Hence the 'the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made'. Today that seems more true than ever. With smart phones, social media, that line becomes even more of our reality as people bow their heads over their phones, messaging instead of talking, etc. 'to the neon god they made' indeed.
The original song was from 1964 Simon & Garfunkel. The song conveys a powerful warning against the dangers of indifference and the inability of people to communicate with each other. "Hello darkness, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again", the author has no one to talk to but the dark, to whom he tells, almost like a confession, about a dream he had. "talking without speaking and hearing without listening sound like oxymora, but they are instead carefully chosen expressions, hinting to the meaninglessness of most of present-day personal interactions." "writing songs that voices never share" speak of loneliness and incommunicability where art perishes. The Sound of Silence paints the picture of a disheartened, dazed people, mirroring the uncertainty of most Americans and their inability to react in the face of the violence and chaos breaking loose both inside their country and on the international stage. The lyrics were written around the time of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The last verse contains a fierce attack against modern consumerism. The people idolize the neon sign they themselves have created, worshiping it as a god; the means to show how modern men have converted to a new religion, whose holy cows are money, appearances and shiny futility. Though written in 1964 where I believe the author was referring to the television but it applies even more today with social media. You should check them out singing this live on Conan. It is even better! Another great cover song to check out is Chris Cornell - "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince Cover) [Live @ SiriusXM] | Lithium.
This song was written in the sixties when the Vietnam War was going on and President Kennedy was assassinated. All of us can relate to this song in some way. It could even have be written today with all that's going on in the world. I was born in 1959 and knew the original but I think Disturbed's version makes you feel the words. 🏴
The original is by Art Garfunkel, and written by Paul Simon. They wrote it in the time television was becoming more common, and people were sitting together, but not talking together because they stayed silent to hear the tv. People are not learning how to communcate with each other, even more now, because of smart devices. People often sit at a table and sms anybody else except the people in front of them. The wider consequences may become political, but the first meaning was more personal.
Smart devices cause us to be more stupid and not able to connect to each other by talking but not actually saying anything meaningful. We hear without actually truly listening to each other. Disconnected from each other.
When Paul Simon heard Disturbed's version he posted it on his own page. He said that Disturbed's version is much more powerful. Well, back in the 60s it had to be toned down. As for Darkness, Paul Simon said that he had a friend that he would greet by saying "hello darkness".
Honestly, I kinda want to verbally explain (at least my take on) this song. Describing it with just text misses so much, but I'll try. First, you have to remember this was written back when neon lights were still sort of a new thing, was synonymous with gaudiness and brainless pleasure. Just think of Las Vegas. The rest of the song is mostly visualizations of the concepts the artist wants to convey. "Hello Darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again." The singer feels that he can only speak his concerns and feelings to the darkness, and is the only thing that will listen, despite it just being that dark corner of your room, or something. "Because a vision softly creeping, left is seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains within the sound of silence." Essentially, this is him telling the darkness about a vision in a dream, and he can't get it out of his head, can't just forget it as just a dream. "In restless dreams I walked alone. Narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp." Mostly, I see this as a description of his dream, all spelled out in metaphor. The loneliness of a nighttime stroll down a cobblestone street, in the rain, with a few street lamps providing islands of light in the darkness. "When my eyes are stabbed by the flash of a neon light, that split the night, and touched the sound of silence." Mostly just imagine the stroll in the rainy night, when suddenly neon light appears ahead, filling the darkness with it's gaudy light. "And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, many more. People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening. People waiting songs that voices never share, and no one dared disturb the sound of silence." This describes, quite literally, what he's seeing in his dream, also in metaphor. People talking with many words, yet their speech has no substance, and might as well be senseless noise. And on the other end, people hearing (possibly important) messages, yet it goes in one ear and out the other. Then people writing words of importance, yet are unable to get it out in the air, where it might do some good. And in the end, no one is willing to break the sound of silence, which I see as that property of emptiness in all that's being said, possibly for some kind of fear. "Fool!" said I, "you do not know, silence, like a cancer, grows," speaking about how this emptiness of meaning, if not stopped, simply grows, soon filling the air and the spaces between people. "Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you," speak of his efforts to break this loud, meaningless silence. "But my words, like silent raindrops, fell, and echoed in the wells of silence," tell how all his effort is falling into this well of silence, heard by no one and making no difference. "And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made," refers to an old story in the bible of something similar, the Israelites losing patience with Moses and creating their own golden idol of a calf, and worshipping it, the neon lights showing it's flashy emptiness. "And the sign said 'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls, and whispered in the sound of silence." Far as I can tell, this speaks of prophecies written (likely as graffiti} on the walls of these streets. I'm sorry if this comes across as "tl:dr", but it was the only way I could get my thoughts down in writing. "And thank you for coming to my TED talk."
Darkness is the place the singer identifies to ponder in.Darkness is also a metaphor for being unenlightened(whereas "light",is the place of awareness and acknowledgement).The song was originally a soft warning about the dangerous effects of being closed off from each other in body ,as well as in mind.Disturbed's version has given a much more aggressive and urgent feeling .It is very pertinent still today with so many degrees of separation in our lives that we cannot agree on even the most basic of fundamental ideals or goals.
It has been said that the original song was a push, a warning and the Disturbed version is a hard shove because we didn't pay attention. I think the silence they are talking about is the silence of nobody talking about the problems and possible solutions in th world, but rather just sitting by quietly. That is how I always saw it.
Don't say that, you are not stupid because you have never experienced this before. If you are intrigued, you will find the meaning that speaks to you. That makes sense to you, the beauty of written word, poetry interpretated by you. You are not stupid.
David Draiman is an amazing singer, able to sing metal and sing classical music as well. So extremely talented. I grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel and they were so good.
I absolutely love silence. I cant get enough of it so when i get a chance i really enjoy it. But i can see how others cant stand it. I love how his voice is the main instrument used and all the other instruments play second fiddle to it. The music is quiet and allows his voice to do the majority of the work and its just absolutely perfect.
It was a warning about losing society to TV , radio and not just talking to each other….. now with Phones its obvious the sing has an even deeper and more modern warning.
MMBxMOB The original was created at the time our country was at war (Vietnam), Kennedy was assassinated it was a warning to the people if we did not communicate if we continued to be at war(with each other because of the counrty's chaos) we would be our own distruction! The version done here by Disturbed is more of a message that what was warned has come to be! We have no time for each other, we can't hear what is being said, we don't speak up for what is right, the dark essence of the video represents that sadness of the loss of compassion we have for each other, what we have allowed to happen to the world today! The silence is in reference to the state of the world today, we're not necessarily quiet, but nothing we say today is being heard(understood) and those who can speak the truth (fear it) it creates more conflict than actually allowing unity! We have ultimately become our own destruction in the way the world has become!
You did awesome. You treated this with the needed respect. I was a 70s baby and this was part of my childhood soundtrack but this iteration opened a lot of doors to the meaning for me. You are so, not stupid. Just plant the lyrics in a pre-technology period, but it is totally applicable now.
I love that you are so intrigued by the lyrics and David Draiman's voice. My suggestion, go listen to Simon & Garfunkle's version. While their lyrics are deep, their music is a bit more upbeat. They were warning us that when people do not communicate, society breaks down. Distrubed's version, you could say, is an angrier version because we didn't heed S&G's warning. Communication has almost completely failed in our current political climate. S&G were writing about everything going on in the 60s - the Vietnam War and the struggles for Equality. Their song is still relevant today because there are still wars and struggles for equality. David's version is darker because we did not listen and we haven't changed. As a writer and artist, I cringe at how censorship is on the rise everywhere. How Voices are being silenced everywhere. How artists are being marginalized and censored. Keep looking at the lyrics, equate them to your own personal struggles, and keep listening to both versions of the song. It will all make sense once you can make it personal.
"The Sound of Silence" , Simon explaining that the song was written in his bathroom, where he turned off the lights to better concentrate. "The main thing about playing the guitar, though, was that I was able to sit by myself and play and dream. 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.'" According to Garfunkel, the song was first developed in November, but Simon took three months to perfect the lyrics, which he claims were entirely written on February 19, 1964. Garfunkel, introducing the song at a live performance (with Simon) in Harlem, June 1966, summed up the song's meaning as "the inability of people to communicate with each other, not particularly intentionally but especially emotionally, so what you see around you are people unable to love each other."
"Stupid" is not caring to really dive into new ideas, people, or songs we've found and enjoyed. I heard this song when it first came out in 1965 and I continue to find new aspects and meanings almost 60 years later. It's a song I've grown up and old with and I'm so grateful that Disturbed made this incredible cover. Not better than the original, more like an update. A very powerful update. Thanks for a great video! 😁
Simon and Garfunkel are the original composer and performers. Almost anything they did was great and Paul Simon is a genius and went on to compose and perform after they broke up. Go see The Graceland Tour that he did in Africa just as apartheid was happening and he used African musicians. That is an absolute must for a music lover. In this Sound of Silence video the musicians and the people with the music are on the opposite sides of the river and only make music when they get together. Young man, I envy you discovering all this greatness for the first time.
What is the deeper meaning of The Sound of Silence? Garfunkel, introducing the song at a live performance (with Simon) in Harlem, June 1966, summed up the song's meaning as "the inability of people to communicate with each other, not particularly intentionally but especially emotionally, so what you see around you are people unable to love each other."
If you want to be blown away, you should watch his live version on Conan O'Brien. He blows the doors off the studio.. It's amazing.. You won't be disappointed, and it will leave you in awe of his true vocal talent..
Love that you are interested in understanding the meaning behind the lyrics. It is a deep song. Highly recommend listening and reacting to the Live version they did in the Conan O’Brien show. Even more powerful. Great reaction.
Not only is David professionally trained but comes from generations of Jewish Cantors. He also is not tattooed out of respect for his heritage. Most especially his Grandfather. He removes his piercings and all when goes home. He has a magnificent instrument but is a great man. To me, in this day and age we have lost the ability to communicate. All the texts and so on...but I think it can mean many things to each person. Simon and Garfunkel wrote it as a warning...David's version is the result of not heading that warning. Simon posted David's version on his site and said it's as much his now as it was theirs
Sir, You are NOT stupid. Your dsire to understand the meaning is a sign of intelligence, Once you learn the words, the greatness of this song and video will be clear and it IS GREAt. I enjoyed watching your video. I have listened to this version over 50 times and it still moves me emotionally.
David Draiman (Dra men) is a classically trained Jewish Cantor as were his father and grandfather, which explains his great voice and breath control. I also agree with Evangelina, please don't call yourself stupid. You, like the rest of us, are in a constant state of learning. That doesn't make you stupid, you just haven't learned it yet! lol You love the Blues, check out Stevie Ray Vaughn, GOAT blues guitarist, Texas Flood, Voo Doo Child.
The meaning of any song is what you feel it means. It is what resonates with you. You can see that even more here where this cover seem so different from the original. It is the meaning the that Disturbed gave it but also the meaning that you ear in the cover. You will no doubt get a completely different vibe, feel and meaning in the original. To exemplify, i will try to share what i think was the original meaning of the song writer Paul Simon by telling an imaginary story. What really happened is obviously completely different. Let us remember that this happened in the beginning of the 60º and Paul was around the age of 20. At the time there was a so called cultural revolution where young people questioned the old values and Paul certainly was feeling it strongly. One just has to know its songs to think this way. The song begins with: "Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again" Paul is in a dark mood thinking about dark thoughts. There are things that he feels but don't know why they are as they seem to be. "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" Here we here for the first time the expression "the sound of silence". What is it? He will give us more clues later. We also learn that without him knowing, he has begin to be inspired (the seed) why those bad things were happening. "In restless dreams, I walked alone Narrow streets of cobblestone 'Neath the halo of a street lamp I turned my collar to the cold and damp" He was living his life as most people do. Feeling alone while surrounded by so many people. He gives us the image of walking on a street of a city. "When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light That split the night And touched the sound of silence" This is one part of the lyrics that many people interpret differently. I will continue with my interpretation. He saw something on the TV that made him realize the above seed of inspiration. What did he see on the TV that made so much of a impression? "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 shared And no one dared Disturb the sound of silence" He saw the TV that was supposed to unite all the people everywhere, but it only helped oppress more and more the expression between people. TV/media was not helping. It was censuring and dividing people. Each to their own. There was no longer sharing. Everything was empty. A shell of meaning. And here we see what "the sound of silence" is. Isolation, division, miscommunication and fear. It is the social values of society at the time helped by the system. ""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" Yep he tried to reach people with his voice, with his body, but he failed. He is just a human after all. Like everybody else. "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 Then the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls And tenement halls" And whispered in the sound of silence" This last part has even more different interpretations. I will stress that the media is warning against the words of the prophets. Words that are graffities in the hidden places and where the poor live. Those are the places where protest and revolution usually comes from. Another and probably much better interpretation is forgetting completely about TV and replacing media with commerce, consumerism and money. That is what neon means. The shops that sells products and our souls. The media meaning is more in line with what many people use to interpret this song lately. About the Disturbed cover and its video. The video shows a metaphor where each of us has a music of life but it can only be played with the instruments of another human being.
I’m 68 & I had to explain what I thought this song with video to my 17 year old granddaughter. To me it’s like the apocalypse. This man had a dream & the musical instruments were being unearthed so the people that wrote the music & played the instruments had to bridge that ocean between them to come together then you see them on the ship at the end.
This song is not their typical sound... Try 'Down With The Sickness' hahaha... However this man's voice is amazing. He's trained vocally as a Cantor, as have been several generations of his family. Please also listen to the live version from the Conan show. Two very different versions... Equally amazing...
Lyrics 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 walked 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 shared 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 Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls In tenement halls" And whispered in the sound of silence
Someone wrote that Simon and Garfunkle's version was the warning about lack of real communication between people and Disturb's version was the anger at the warning not being heeded.
I think the live version they did on Conan is the best, even though the singer was sick with a fever. 🔥👵🏼❤️☮️ Paul Simon wrote this in the 60’s and performed it with Art Garfunkel as a warning and Disturbed’s version is more angry because of where we are today because we didn’t heed the warnings.
I find that the phrase "neon light" should give people an idea that the song was written in the sixties. Today we talk about LEDs and OLEDs - neon is a bit outdated. The original writer was Paul Simon who was worried about the influence of television on the people, but in truth it applies to today also, when people are sitting together but everyone is looking at their (Mobile/Handy/Cellphone) - pick one ;)
David was trained as a Cantor. His voice is amazing. You gotta do more since this song isn't normally what they do. Down with the Sickness is what most people know them for. They did just release a new album. Bad Man is awesome.
This is a comment that I had read on a different reaction to this video. Simon and Garfunkel Song was from the turmoil of the 1960s, Vietnam, race relations, and Division in the country. It was not unlike what's going on now. So Simon wrote the lyrics and the song is more of a folk song. It's more of a warning to the country that we need to start listening to each other. Disturbed in their cover is more of the anger that no one listened to the warning. That might put it more into perspective for you.
Simon and Garfunkels original is amazing. But this version is great also. There have been many copies of this fantastic song over the decades and it well continue. Heres the lyrics. 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 walked 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 shared 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 Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls In tenement halls" And whispered in the sound of silence
The original version back in 1964 was a warning about the lack of meaningful communication, people don't really connect. It was a lot smoother than this version, this version convey the anger that we didn't listen to the original and more than 50 years later, the situation is even worst.
Since everybody has already said everything that should be said about the original and this cover (which along was Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt", Brian Justin Crum's AGT cover of "Creep" by Radiohead, and Calum Scott's BGT cover of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own", and a few others), is phenomenal & one of the best covers ever done, I'm just going to say that if you listen to Disturbed's "Down With The Sickness", please listen to the unedited version, because the radio edit cuts out the most powerful part of the song.
I remember when the first stable tube TV sets came out in the early 50's. I have seen the age of electronics sweep the nation. We have been conditioned to depend on electronics. Groomed if you will... I myself have been sucked in by the ease of obtaining knowledge. If there was no internet tomorrow I would go fishing.
Being stupid is not asking, not wanting to learn about this, it is everything, you are.... NOT STUPID! Did I mention this is by far the most descriptive reaction I have seen. You learnt and educated us. Win! Simon and Garfunkel wrote the original.
Don't feel stupid. Look at the video. On one side of the Gulf, were the Song writers and Composers..but they didn't have the music . On the other side of the Gulf..were the musicians, they had the sound. At the end, the boat of musical instruments crosses over to the waiting people..who lived in Silence. Can you imagine the week long party they had singing and playing?? ( If it were real) You are Not Stupid.💕
No, not stupid! I find it prophetic! A take on censorship, especially with music, etc. I loved the original, but this version is simply phenomenal! The absolutely most stunning, heart pounding, chilling, prophetic version. David Draiman is just --- bloody awesome! Aloha
David, the lead singer is amazing. Love this song by them. Disturbed has some great music that is metal but has softer things too like Memories. He always make me think about things we deal with. Down With the Sickness is different. 🤣❤️
1964...Vietnam.. Hello Darkness My Old Friend....I have a tee-shirt.... Song has been covered well over 200 times....Simon and Garfunkel diffently capture the 60...CIVIL RIGHTS, VIETNAM, WOMEN'S RIGHTS... Assassinations, of MLK, JFK, It was turbulent times, You can hear it in music, History lessons... Credence Clearwater Rival CCR..Have some if the best Vietnam songs. Fortunate Son...get lyrics...Anti war song...
David Draimon has "cantor" training. That's a thing in Jewish services where they have someone basically sing the Torah instead of just reciting from it. And yes, the entire Old Testament has specific sheet music in Judaism. Being able to do it is right up there with opera training. Disturbed's biggest hit was "Down With The Sickness," that's worth checking out too.
Fantastic reaction. I appreciate how thoughtful and insightful you are. As I'm late to the party, I know you've already done the OG, but the next time you want to hear this arrangement, watch the live Conan version. He does that sh*t LIVE, sick as a dog and it's somehow BETTER. All the feels. Honestly, even if you don't do a whole reaction, just watch it. Do not deprive yourself of that excellence.
Oh and also, you're not stupid. Truly, stupid people think they know everything already, they aren't curious. That's what makes them stupid. That you are curious when faced with the unknown is a legitimate sign of intelligence. Intelligent people know that they don't know things and are more likely to think themselves stupid than actual stupid people. Just one of the fun ways the human mind is its own worst enemy LOL But truly, it's been studied and proven, so when you don't know something, you don't need to judge yourself for it. Sorry for the sermon, really enjoying your videos.
The song search should have brought up lost of information. It was released in the late 60 and then again in 70 by the original group and writer Paul Simon from Simon & Garfunkel.
You are NOT stupid, the song has awakened something in you, you want to know what it means. It seems to have got you to start thinking and question what it is about and (to me) that is what the song is about. Question what you don't understand, don't just listen but hear what is being said.
HEY MMB... Darkness does not have to be evil... it could just be hidden... you need to listen to Simon and Garfunkel, much more mellow and deep, awe-inspiring... blessings.
Darkness is from those who are uninformed. There IS a God that does care. There WAS a challenge that started WAY back in the beginning of time from an angel rival!!!
Originally done by Simon and Garfunkel the song is about what is happening today iin our society and they wrote this 42 years ago and it is about how people are not listening any more because there on there cell phones 24/7 and nobody conversates any more , its all texting .
TE ARAÑA LA CONCIENCIA, ARREBATA LA ESTUPIDEZ HUMANA, TE TRANSFORMA, TE BAJA A LA HUMILDAD, ESTAMOS ANTE UNA OBRA MAESTRA ÚNICA, INIGUALABLE, DIVINA...
And listening to your closing comments, you can do what you want obviously, but as somebody who's really into this kind of thing, I would say don't even listen to all the idiots on the internet and there are some Geniuses on the internet but then they're difficult to parse. I would say when it comes to songs like this that are basically poetry, you know fill in the blanks yourself. What is that sense of Silence or dark that is being sung about. Don't listen to other people's opinions on that think about it for yourself and decide what you feel about it. And what's cool about that is it'll change over time you'll hear other opinions, you'll hear the song more times it'll make you think slightly different about it every time. That's the power of music to me man.
The lyrics start out by telling you what he saw in his dream.....This song was written in 1963....it was a warning about the future....because back then people were talking....and listening.....so throughout the song he was telling you about the vision that was planted in his head. You can hear David get angry because people are not listening. Talking without speaking....IPHONES......NEION GOD ....Technology AI....at the end music will bring people together...
I agree with the people that the original by Simon and Garfunkel is the one that is best to hear first. I like this version, but as a tonal counterpoint to the original. Paul Simon's writing can be taken many different ways, both on a personal and a societal level. The vocals on this are incredibly impressive, but the original highlights the song and lyrics rather than the vocalist's ability to impress. This is very flashy in an angry way. The original is much more subtle and introspective. BTW, You are not stupid.
I have a different perspective. S&G's SOS has been my favourite song for many decades, but this version took its place. It gave me a visceral reaction and made me pay attention to the lyrics in a way that the folk song had not.
I felt the same way....until I listened to S&G's original after hearing Disturbed. And suddenly, a sweet favorite sounded.... superficial. Boppy and carefree and cheery. This is David's song now.
These lyrics are deep. The fact that you have such a curious mind that you want to know more means you're intelligent, the opposite of being stupid. To me, this song is about feeling alienated by our shallow society, where you can't get in touch with others, or even with yourself. We are separated by the media and commercialism, which is even more true today than it was when the song was written. I love Disturbed's version because it's just raw and angry. The original is sweet and folksy, but after nobody paid attention to the warning contained in the song for almost 60 years, it's time to rage about it.
I like your impression of this song. Its legit. But the reality of the song is based in HISTORY. I wish every young person would watch movies and listen to music from the 60's on forward. There's benefits to this: You bosses will think you're with them when you can identify what THEY grew up to... and knowing History is the SMARTEST thing any young person can do. This song was written for the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Did you not hear "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and TENEMENT HALLS"? Simon and Garfunkul sang this hit in 1965, in the midst of the MASSIVE change in American consciousness. The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the "power of the Man" keeping you "down" (can't smoke a joint, or you be in jail!". In 1971, I was in HS, and the girls couldn't wear PANTS. THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE LA AREA! The boys couldn't wear TSHIRTS, you had to have a COLLAR, and your hair could not be long enough to go over that collar. THINK ABOUT THAT, YOUNG MILLS. Those rights didn't exist for us. Then the Era of Flower Power, Hippies, Rock n Roll, Folk music and the explosion of incredible insights to these issues. What do you kids listen to today? Computer music? Got me some big Green? I gotta talk about myself? Girls gotta show their booty to be legit? Not all of your music is this way, but you gotta pick what makes your soul sing, not what the MAN who wants your money "builds" without a soul, to take advantage of your youthful biological urges, exploiting your weaknesses and your intelligence by selling "enjoy yourself today, sell your soul to get cool and lit:" while they get rich on your sad sinking into the morass of ignorance. Ask Cardi B how she feels now about her participation and being sucked into that machine of destruction. Sounds of Silence was about TAKING ACTION. And NOT ON TIKTOK or some social media site. TALK FACE TO FACE. BE KIND. SEE THE REWARDS OF SPEAKING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE. That's what this song is about.
Please don't call yourself stupid. I'm so impressed on how you are thorough in trying to help us (me) understand the meaning of this song. I love the way you appreciate the music from way back from the 60's and it's the music that I loved and hadn't heard in many years. Thank you :)
Yet you don't have a meaning after all these years? Really?
It’s still relevant today because no one listens, hears, or communicates anymore. How loud to silence when no one speaks. This song is over 50 years old.
Looking back on my experiences in the 60's and fast forwarding to now... My perception of the meaning of the original song by SImon and Garfunkel was that technology (at that time the television) was creating a society that didnt allow for as much personal communication. That the conversations at the dinner table and visiting with friends was slowly being replaced by gathering around the TV. Hence the 'the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made'. Today that seems more true than ever. With smart phones, social media, that line becomes even more of our reality as people bow their heads over their phones, messaging instead of talking, etc. 'to the neon god they made' indeed.
The original song was from 1964 Simon & Garfunkel. The song conveys a powerful warning against the dangers of indifference and the inability of people to communicate with each other. "Hello darkness, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again", the author has no one to talk to but the dark, to whom he tells, almost like a confession, about a dream he had. "talking without speaking and hearing without listening sound like oxymora, but they are instead carefully chosen expressions, hinting to the meaninglessness of most of present-day personal interactions." "writing songs that voices never share" speak of loneliness and incommunicability where art perishes. The Sound of Silence paints the picture of a disheartened, dazed people, mirroring the uncertainty of most Americans and their inability to react in the face of the violence and chaos breaking loose both inside their country and on the international stage. The lyrics were written around the time of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The last verse contains a fierce attack against modern consumerism. The people idolize the neon sign they themselves have created, worshiping it as a god; the means to show how modern men have converted to a new religion, whose holy cows are money, appearances and shiny futility. Though written in 1964 where I believe the author was referring to the television but it applies even more today with social media.
You should check them out singing this live on Conan. It is even better!
Another great cover song to check out is Chris Cornell - "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince Cover) [Live @ SiriusXM] | Lithium.
There is no other song that has such vocal build it like this cover 💯.. original is amazing but this modern cover brought the message back ..
I appreciate your reaction. It’s the kind of song and video where you can see something new each time you listen/watch.
This song was written in the sixties when the Vietnam War was going on and President Kennedy was assassinated. All of us can relate to this song in some way. It could even have be written today with all that's going on in the world. I was born in 1959 and knew the original but I think Disturbed's version makes you feel the words. 🏴
The original is by Art Garfunkel, and written by Paul Simon. They wrote it in the time television was becoming more common, and people were sitting together, but not talking together because they stayed silent to hear the tv. People are not learning how to communcate with each other, even more now, because of smart devices. People often sit at a table and sms anybody else except the people in front of them. The wider consequences may become political, but the first meaning was more personal.
Smart devices cause us to be more stupid and not able to connect to each other by talking but not actually saying anything meaningful. We hear without actually truly listening to each other. Disconnected from each other.
You nailed it absolutely.
@@roxannekabotsky2997 Nobody ever learned how to communicate well, without talking face to face, and seeing reactions is actual time.
When Paul Simon heard Disturbed's version he posted it on his own page. He said that Disturbed's version is much more powerful. Well, back in the 60s it had to be toned down. As for Darkness, Paul Simon said that he had a friend that he would greet by saying "hello darkness".
Best lyric ever written “turn my collar to the cold and damp”.
On one island they have music without instruments. The other island has instruments without music. At the end they launch a boat to meet
Honestly, I kinda want to verbally explain (at least my take on) this song. Describing it with just text misses so much, but I'll try.
First, you have to remember this was written back when neon lights were still sort of a new thing, was synonymous with gaudiness and brainless pleasure. Just think of Las Vegas. The rest of the song is mostly visualizations of the concepts the artist wants to convey.
"Hello Darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again." The singer feels that he can only speak his concerns and feelings to the darkness, and is the only thing that will listen, despite it just being that dark corner of your room, or something.
"Because a vision softly creeping, left is seeds while I was sleeping. And the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains within the sound of silence." Essentially, this is him telling the darkness about a vision in a dream, and he can't get it out of his head, can't just forget it as just a dream.
"In restless dreams I walked alone. Narrow streets of cobblestone. 'Neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp." Mostly, I see this as a description of his dream, all spelled out in metaphor. The loneliness of a nighttime stroll down a cobblestone street, in the rain, with a few street lamps providing islands of light in the darkness.
"When my eyes are stabbed by the flash of a neon light, that split the night, and touched the sound of silence." Mostly just imagine the stroll in the rainy night, when suddenly neon light appears ahead, filling the darkness with it's gaudy light.
"And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, many more. People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening. People waiting songs that voices never share, and no one dared disturb the sound of silence." This describes, quite literally, what he's seeing in his dream, also in metaphor. People talking with many words, yet their speech has no substance, and might as well be senseless noise. And on the other end, people hearing (possibly important) messages, yet it goes in one ear and out the other. Then people writing words of importance, yet are unable to get it out in the air, where it might do some good. And in the end, no one is willing to break the sound of silence, which I see as that property of emptiness in all that's being said, possibly for some kind of fear.
"Fool!" said I, "you do not know, silence, like a cancer, grows," speaking about how this emptiness of meaning, if not stopped, simply grows, soon filling the air and the spaces between people. "Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you," speak of his efforts to break this loud, meaningless silence. "But my words, like silent raindrops, fell, and echoed in the wells of silence," tell how all his effort is falling into this well of silence, heard by no one and making no difference.
"And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made," refers to an old story in the bible of something similar, the Israelites losing patience with Moses and creating their own golden idol of a calf, and worshipping it, the neon lights showing it's flashy emptiness.
"And the sign said 'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls, and whispered in the sound of silence." Far as I can tell, this speaks of prophecies written (likely as graffiti} on the walls of these streets.
I'm sorry if this comes across as "tl:dr", but it was the only way I could get my thoughts down in writing. "And thank you for coming to my TED talk."
Darkness isn’t evil, it’s a place of deep reflection and yes, it can cause depression but this is a bouncing place for hope and strength
This song echoes the fact that we've lost the ability, as a society, to communicate with each other on an intimate and personal level.
Darkness is the place the singer identifies to ponder in.Darkness is also a metaphor for being unenlightened(whereas "light",is the place of awareness and acknowledgement).The song was originally a soft warning about the dangerous effects of being closed off from each other in body ,as well as in mind.Disturbed's version has given a much more aggressive and urgent feeling .It is very pertinent still today with so many degrees of separation in our lives that we cannot agree on even the most basic of fundamental ideals or goals.
You must react to the live version on the Conan show. It's even better, and David was so sick with a high fever. His voice is otherworldly.
That’s my favorite version! 🔥👵🏼❤️☮️
I disagree I avoid them reactions
There was heavy usage of autotune on that video. David was a bit sick. Not a true example of their talent.
I still prefer the official video because the video really illustrates both the lyrics and the power of his emotion.
It has been said that the original song was a push, a warning and the Disturbed version is a hard shove because we didn't pay attention. I think the silence they are talking about is the silence of nobody talking about the problems and possible solutions in th world, but rather just sitting by quietly. That is how I always saw it.
“And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they’d made” Tech and social media IMO.
Yes, maybe they can be doing both. Sitting on their phones instead of talking to each other. @@nessienessie8798
This was loooong before those developments.
Not for the newer version@@andredarin8966
Don't say that, you are not stupid because you have never experienced this before. If you are intrigued, you will find the meaning that speaks to you. That makes sense to you, the beauty of written word, poetry interpretated by you. You are not stupid.
David Draiman is an amazing singer, able to sing metal and sing classical music as well. So extremely talented. I grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel and they were so good.
I absolutely love silence. I cant get enough of it so when i get a chance i really enjoy it. But i can see how others cant stand it.
I love how his voice is the main instrument used and all the other instruments play second fiddle to it. The music is quiet and allows his voice to do the majority of the work and its just absolutely perfect.
It was a warning about losing society to TV , radio and not just talking to each other….. now with Phones its obvious the sing has an even deeper and more modern warning.
MMBxMOB The original was created at the time our country was at war (Vietnam), Kennedy was assassinated it was a warning to the people if we did not communicate if we continued to be at war(with each other because of the counrty's chaos) we would be our own distruction! The version done here by Disturbed is more of a message that what was warned has come to be! We have no time for each other, we can't hear what is being said, we don't speak up for what is right, the dark essence of the video represents that sadness of the loss of compassion we have for each other, what we have allowed to happen to the world today! The silence is in reference to the state of the world today, we're not necessarily quiet, but nothing we say today is being heard(understood) and those who can speak the truth (fear it) it creates more conflict than actually allowing unity! We have ultimately become our own destruction in the way the world has become!
Distractions allow us to escape/ignore our own problems. They sure pop back up I'm the quiet.
This song is one of the best covers ever, period.
You did awesome. You treated this with the needed respect. I was a 70s baby and this was part of my childhood soundtrack but this iteration opened a lot of doors to the meaning for me.
You are so, not stupid. Just plant the lyrics in a pre-technology period, but it is totally applicable now.
I read somewhere that someone said the original Simon and Garfunkel version was the warning and that Disturbeds is the rage that we didn’t listen.
This version means different things to different people.
I love that you are so intrigued by the lyrics and David Draiman's voice. My suggestion, go listen to Simon & Garfunkle's version. While their lyrics are deep, their music is a bit more upbeat. They were warning us that when people do not communicate, society breaks down. Distrubed's version, you could say, is an angrier version because we didn't heed S&G's warning. Communication has almost completely failed in our current political climate. S&G were writing about everything going on in the 60s - the Vietnam War and the struggles for Equality. Their song is still relevant today because there are still wars and struggles for equality. David's version is darker because we did not listen and we haven't changed. As a writer and artist, I cringe at how censorship is on the rise everywhere. How Voices are being silenced everywhere. How artists are being marginalized and censored. Keep looking at the lyrics, equate them to your own personal struggles, and keep listening to both versions of the song. It will all make sense once you can make it personal.
"The Sound of Silence" , Simon explaining that the song was written in his bathroom, where he turned off the lights to better concentrate. "The main thing about playing the guitar, though, was that I was able to sit by myself and play and dream. 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.'" According to Garfunkel, the song was first developed in November, but Simon took three months to perfect the lyrics, which he claims were entirely written on February 19, 1964. Garfunkel, introducing the song at a live performance (with Simon) in Harlem, June 1966, summed up the song's meaning as "the inability of people to communicate with each other, not particularly intentionally but especially emotionally, so what you see around you are people unable to love each other."
"Stupid" is not caring to really dive into new ideas, people, or songs we've found and enjoyed.
I heard this song when it first came out in 1965 and I continue to find new aspects and meanings almost 60 years later. It's a song I've grown up and old with and I'm so grateful that Disturbed made this incredible cover. Not better than the original, more like an update. A very powerful update.
Thanks for a great video! 😁
Couldn't agree with you more Christopher.
Simon and Garfunkel are the original composer and performers. Almost anything they did was great and Paul Simon is a genius and went on to compose and perform after they broke up. Go see The Graceland Tour that he did in Africa just as apartheid was happening and he used African musicians. That is an absolute must for a music lover. In this Sound of Silence video the musicians and the people with the music are on the opposite sides of the river and only make music when they get together. Young man, I envy you discovering all this greatness for the first time.
What is the deeper meaning of The Sound of Silence?
Garfunkel, introducing the song at a live performance (with Simon) in Harlem, June 1966, summed up the song's meaning as "the inability of people to communicate with each other, not particularly intentionally but especially emotionally, so what you see around you are people unable to love each other."
LOVE LOVE this version. I look up the meaning or inspiration of most of my favorite songs. They mean more to you once you learn the background. 💙💙💚💚🧡🧡
If you want to be blown away, you should watch his live version on Conan O'Brien. He blows the doors off the studio.. It's amazing.. You won't be disappointed, and it will leave you in awe of his true vocal talent..
Paul Simon wrote the song back in the 60's
The comments are right, you must understand Simon and Garfunkel, and the time when they made this
Love that you are interested in understanding the meaning behind the lyrics. It is a deep song. Highly recommend listening and reacting to the Live version they did in the Conan O’Brien show. Even more powerful. Great reaction.
Thank you for your contribution to the "Neon God" we made!
Not only is David professionally trained but comes from generations of Jewish Cantors. He also is not tattooed out of respect for his heritage. Most especially his Grandfather. He removes his piercings and all when goes home.
He has a magnificent instrument but is a great man.
To me, in this day and age we have lost the ability to communicate. All the texts and so on...but I think it can mean many things to each person.
Simon and Garfunkel wrote it as a warning...David's version is the result of not heading that warning. Simon posted David's version on his site and said it's as much his now as it was theirs
Sir, You are NOT stupid. Your dsire to understand the meaning is a sign of intelligence, Once you learn the words, the greatness of this song and video will be clear and it IS GREAt. I enjoyed watching your video. I have listened to this version over 50 times and it still moves me emotionally.
David Draiman (Dra men) is a classically trained Jewish Cantor as were his father and grandfather, which explains his great voice and breath control. I also agree with Evangelina, please don't call yourself stupid. You, like the rest of us, are in a constant state of learning. That doesn't make you stupid, you just haven't learned it yet! lol You love the Blues, check out Stevie Ray Vaughn, GOAT blues guitarist, Texas Flood, Voo Doo Child.
music is the key to the sole
The meaning of any song is what you feel it means. It is what resonates with you.
You can see that even more here where this cover seem so different from the original. It is the meaning the that Disturbed gave it but also the meaning that you ear in the cover. You will no doubt get a completely different vibe, feel and meaning in the original.
To exemplify, i will try to share what i think was the original meaning of the song writer Paul Simon by telling an imaginary story. What really happened is obviously completely different.
Let us remember that this happened in the beginning of the 60º and Paul was around the age of 20. At the time there was a so called cultural revolution where young people questioned the old values and Paul certainly was feeling it strongly. One just has to know its songs to think this way.
The song begins with:
"Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again"
Paul is in a dark mood thinking about dark thoughts. There are things that he feels but don't know why they are as they seem to be.
"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"
Here we here for the first time the expression "the sound of silence". What is it? He will give us more clues later.
We also learn that without him knowing, he has begin to be inspired (the seed) why those bad things were happening.
"In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp"
He was living his life as most people do. Feeling alone while surrounded by so many people. He gives us the image of walking on a street of a city.
"When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence"
This is one part of the lyrics that many people interpret differently. I will continue with my interpretation.
He saw something on the TV that made him realize the above seed of inspiration.
What did he see on the TV that made so much of a impression?
"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 shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence"
He saw the TV that was supposed to unite all the people everywhere, but it only helped oppress more and more the expression between people. TV/media was not helping. It was censuring and dividing people. Each to their own. There was no longer sharing. Everything was empty. A shell of meaning.
And here we see what "the sound of silence" is.
Isolation, division, miscommunication and fear.
It is the social values of society at the time helped by the system.
""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"
Yep he tried to reach people with his voice, with his body, but he failed.
He is just a human after all. Like everybody else.
"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
Then the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence"
This last part has even more different interpretations.
I will stress that the media is warning against the words of the prophets. Words that are graffities in the hidden places and where the poor live.
Those are the places where protest and revolution usually comes from.
Another and probably much better interpretation is forgetting completely about TV and replacing media with commerce, consumerism and money. That is what neon means. The shops that sells products and our souls.
The media meaning is more in line with what many people use to interpret this song lately.
About the Disturbed cover and its video.
The video shows a metaphor where each of us has a music of life but it can only be played with the instruments of another human being.
I really don't know how people can react to songs without headphones. So much better experience!
I’m 68 & I had to explain what I thought this song with video to my 17 year old granddaughter. To me it’s like the apocalypse. This man had a dream & the musical instruments were being unearthed so the people that wrote the music & played the instruments had to bridge that ocean between them to come together then you see them on the ship at the end.
I saw Disturbed perform this song at one of their shows and it was amazing!!
This song is not their typical sound... Try 'Down With The Sickness' hahaha...
However this man's voice is amazing. He's trained vocally as a Cantor, as have been several generations of his family.
Please also listen to the live version from the Conan show. Two very different versions... Equally amazing...
He is wonderful. Excellent.❤❤❤❤😊😊😊
Lyrics
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 walked 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 shared
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
Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence
Someone wrote that Simon and Garfunkle's version was the warning about lack of real communication between people and Disturb's version was the anger at the warning not being heeded.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏standing ovation the best cover I’ve heard!
I think the live version they did on Conan is the best, even though the singer was sick with a fever. 🔥👵🏼❤️☮️
Paul Simon wrote this in the 60’s and performed it with Art Garfunkel as a warning and Disturbed’s version is more angry because of where we are today because we didn’t heed the warnings.
It was about the thoughts in his head as he is going to bed in the darkness
I find that the phrase "neon light" should give people an idea that the song was written in the sixties. Today we talk about LEDs and OLEDs - neon is a bit outdated. The original writer was Paul Simon who was worried about the influence of television on the people, but in truth it applies to today also, when people are sitting together but everyone is looking at their (Mobile/Handy/Cellphone) - pick one ;)
David was trained as a Cantor. His voice is amazing. You gotta do more since this song isn't normally what they do. Down with the Sickness is what most people know them for. They did just release a new album. Bad Man is awesome.
This is a comment that I had read on a different reaction to this video. Simon and Garfunkel Song was from the turmoil of the 1960s, Vietnam, race relations, and Division in the country. It was not unlike what's going on now. So Simon wrote the lyrics and the song is more of a folk song. It's more of a warning to the country that we need to start listening to each other. Disturbed in their cover is more of the anger that no one listened to the warning. That might put it more into perspective for you.
Love your curiosity. A song and its meaning is personal to each individual.
I know many like this cover of Sounds of Silence, but I still say it belongs to Simon & Garfunkel. That could also be because I'm an old one! lol
I will always prefer the original. Any Simon and Garfunkel is always the best for me. Has much more meaning and emotion
Simon and Garfunkels original is amazing. But this version is great also. There have been many copies of this fantastic song over the decades and it well continue. Heres the lyrics.
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 walked 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 shared
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
Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence
The original version back in 1964 was a warning about the lack of meaningful communication, people don't really connect. It was a lot smoother than this version, this version convey the anger that we didn't listen to the original and more than 50 years later, the situation is even worst.
It stems from communication thru technology, " and the ppl bowed and prayed too the neon god (phones / computers ) they made ,, its very powerful
It was #1 on Billboards hard rock chart
Since everybody has already said everything that should be said about the original and this cover (which along was Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt", Brian Justin Crum's AGT cover of "Creep" by Radiohead, and Calum Scott's BGT cover of Robyn's "Dancing On My Own", and a few others), is phenomenal & one of the best covers ever done, I'm just going to say that if you listen to Disturbed's "Down With The Sickness", please listen to the unedited version, because the radio edit cuts out the most powerful part of the song.
The "Darkness" is like being "Lost in the Dark".
I remember when the first stable tube TV sets came out in the early 50's. I have seen the age of electronics sweep the nation. We have been conditioned to depend on electronics. Groomed if you will... I myself have been sucked in by the ease of obtaining knowledge. If there was no internet tomorrow I would go fishing.
Being stupid is not asking, not wanting to learn about this, it is everything, you are.... NOT STUPID! Did I mention this is by far the most descriptive reaction I have seen. You learnt and educated us. Win! Simon and Garfunkel wrote the original.
You are a beautiful person…❤ Thank you !
Don't feel stupid.
Look at the video.
On one side of the Gulf, were the Song writers and Composers..but they didn't have the music .
On the other side of the Gulf..were the musicians, they had the sound.
At the end, the boat of musical instruments crosses over to the waiting people..who lived in Silence.
Can you imagine the week long party they had singing and playing??
( If it were real)
You are Not Stupid.💕
The darkness is referring to a familiar demon that plants a vision in his brain!!
No, not stupid! I find it prophetic! A take on censorship, especially with music, etc. I loved the original, but this version is simply phenomenal! The absolutely most stunning, heart pounding, chilling, prophetic version. David Draiman is just --- bloody awesome! Aloha
It went huge once RUclips reaction started
Their live version on Conan ..... 💜🎶he was even sickness💜🫶🏼😊
David, the lead singer is amazing. Love this song by them. Disturbed has some great music that is metal but has softer things too like Memories. He always make me think about things we deal with. Down With the Sickness is different. 🤣❤️
It peaked at 42 on Billboard
1964...Vietnam..
Hello Darkness My Old Friend....I have a tee-shirt....
Song has been covered well over 200 times....Simon and Garfunkel diffently capture the 60...CIVIL RIGHTS, VIETNAM, WOMEN'S RIGHTS...
Assassinations, of MLK, JFK, It was turbulent times, You can hear it in music, History lessons...
Credence Clearwater Rival CCR..Have some if the best Vietnam songs.
Fortunate Son...get lyrics...Anti war song...
Darkness can refer to the dark night of the soul. Not evil or depression, but a really deep reflection
Great reaction One of the best videos ever on RUclips wild bill awesome 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
David Draimon has "cantor" training. That's a thing in Jewish services where they have someone basically sing the Torah instead of just reciting from it. And yes, the entire Old Testament has specific sheet music in Judaism. Being able to do it is right up there with opera training.
Disturbed's biggest hit was "Down With The Sickness," that's worth checking out too.
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Fantastic reaction. I appreciate how thoughtful and insightful you are. As I'm late to the party, I know you've already done the OG, but the next time you want to hear this arrangement, watch the live Conan version. He does that sh*t LIVE, sick as a dog and it's somehow BETTER. All the feels. Honestly, even if you don't do a whole reaction, just watch it. Do not deprive yourself of that excellence.
Oh and also, you're not stupid. Truly, stupid people think they know everything already, they aren't curious. That's what makes them stupid. That you are curious when faced with the unknown is a legitimate sign of intelligence. Intelligent people know that they don't know things and are more likely to think themselves stupid than actual stupid people. Just one of the fun ways the human mind is its own worst enemy LOL But truly, it's been studied and proven, so when you don't know something, you don't need to judge yourself for it. Sorry for the sermon, really enjoying your videos.
welcome to the enlightenment. quite yet POWERFULL David made it his own.
Paul Simon 50 years ago. brought this to us, Simon and Garfunkle, the sound of slience.
I know I am totally late to this party... but it had over 400 MILLION views.... it was Massively poplular
Darkness refers to his dispair
The song search should have brought up lost of information. It was released in the late 60 and then again in 70 by the original group and writer Paul Simon from Simon & Garfunkel.
You are NOT stupid, the song has awakened something in you, you want to know what it means. It seems to have got you to start thinking and question what it is about and (to me) that is what the song is about. Question what you don't understand, don't just listen but hear what is being said.
Have you heard the original, and compared the different approaches in how this was sung? (Original: Simon & Garfunkel)
They are world 🌎 famous almost a billion views wild bill
Darkness is visual silence.
It's about man's disconnect from man.
HEY MMB...
Darkness does not have to be evil... it could just be hidden... you need to listen to Simon and Garfunkel, much more mellow and deep, awe-inspiring... blessings.
Darkness is from those who are uninformed. There IS a God that does care. There WAS a challenge that started WAY back in the beginning of time from an angel rival!!!
Ok it'd be good to hear the original, but this one kicks the originals A$$!!!!
Originally done by Simon and Garfunkel the song is about what is happening today iin our society and they wrote this 42 years ago and it is about how people are not listening any more because there on there cell phones 24/7 and nobody conversates any more , its all texting .
TE ARAÑA LA CONCIENCIA, ARREBATA LA ESTUPIDEZ HUMANA, TE TRANSFORMA, TE BAJA A LA HUMILDAD, ESTAMOS ANTE UNA OBRA MAESTRA ÚNICA, INIGUALABLE, DIVINA...
It's about technology
Simon and Garfunkle's version was a warning. Disturbed's version is the anger bc we didn't listen
And listening to your closing comments, you can do what you want obviously, but as somebody who's really into this kind of thing, I would say don't even listen to all the idiots on the internet and there are some Geniuses on the internet but then they're difficult to parse. I would say when it comes to songs like this that are basically poetry, you know fill in the blanks yourself. What is that sense of Silence or dark that is being sung about. Don't listen to other people's opinions on that think about it for yourself and decide what you feel about it. And what's cool about that is it'll change over time you'll hear other opinions, you'll hear the song more times it'll make you think slightly different about it every time. That's the power of music to me man.
The lyrics start out by telling you what he saw in his dream.....This song was written in 1963....it was a warning about the future....because back then people were talking....and listening.....so throughout the song he was telling you about the vision that was planted in his head. You can hear David get angry because people are not listening. Talking without speaking....IPHONES......NEION GOD ....Technology AI....at the end music will bring people together...
I agree with the people that the original by Simon and Garfunkel is the one that is best to hear first. I like this version, but as a tonal counterpoint to the original. Paul Simon's writing can be taken many different ways, both on a personal and a societal level. The vocals on this are incredibly impressive, but the original highlights the song and lyrics rather than the vocalist's ability to impress. This is very flashy in an angry way. The original is much more subtle and introspective. BTW, You are not stupid.
I have a different perspective. S&G's SOS has been my favourite song for many decades, but this version took its place. It gave me a visceral reaction and made me pay attention to the lyrics in a way that the folk song had not.
I felt the same way....until I listened to S&G's original after hearing Disturbed. And suddenly, a sweet favorite sounded.... superficial. Boppy and carefree and cheery. This is David's song now.
I’m sorry, but this is not the one you should hear first. You should hear the original done by Simon and Garfunkel!! The album version, not the live.