Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I wa-as sleeping

And the vision that was planted

In my brain, still remai-ains

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 ni-ight

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 tha-at voices

Never share, and no one dare-are

Disturb the sound of silence



Fools said I, you do not know

Silence like the 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 The words of the prophet

Are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls

And whispered in the sounds of silence