The Sound of Silence

For use with "The Sound of Silence"

 

 

Corinthians 13

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and I have not charity, I am nothing.

3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it provideth me nothing.

 

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 listening

People writing songs that voices never share

No one dare

Disturb the sound of silence.

 

"Fools," said I, "you do not know

Silence like a cancer grows,

Hear my words that I might reach you;

Take my arms that I might reach you.

But my words like silent raindrops fell

And echoed the will 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, "The words of the prophets

   are written on the subway walls

And tenement walls."

And whispered the sounds of silence.

 

                                                    -- Paul Simon

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