Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. Tabs:
- Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream
- Bleecker Street
- Sparrow
- The Sounds Of Silence »
- Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
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Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
Standard tuning
Dm
Throughout the intro you pluck like so: e|---1---1---1---1-|
B|-----3-------3---|
G|-2-------2-------|
The only plucking part of the song is the intro, the rest is strumming, you'll have
to listen to the song to find the rhythm. Good luck.
Intro: (Start plucking on the 'G' string, and say "Hello" on the third time you pluck
the 'B' string. The rest of the chords are above the corresponding syllables, just keep
the plucking rhythm while you transition.)
Dm C
Hello darkness my old friend
Dm
I've come to talk with you again
F Bb F
Because a vision softly creeping
Bb F
Left his seeds while I was sleeping
Bb F
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Dm F C D
Still remain within the sound of silence.
Verse 1:
C
In restless dreams I walked alone
Dm
Narrow streets of cobbled stone
F Bb F
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
Bb F
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
Bb F
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
Dm F C Dm
That split the night and touched the sound of silence.
Verse 2:
C
And in the naked light I saw
Dm
Ten thousand people maybe more
F Bb F
People talking without speaking
Bb F
People hearing without listening
Bb F
People writing songs that voices never share
Dm F C Dm
And no one dare disturb the sound of silence
Verse 3:
C
Fools said I you do not know
Dm
Silence like a cancer grow
F Bb F
Hear my words that I might teach you
Bb F
Take my arm that I might reach you
Bb F
But my words like silent raindrops fell
Dm F C Dm
And echoed in the well of silence
Verse 4:
C
And the people bowed and prayed
Dm
To the neon god they made
F Bb F
And the sign flashed out its warning
Bb F
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said
Bb F
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
Dm F C Dm
And tenement halls and whispered in the sound of silence
Enjoy,
Todd
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http://www.guitarmasta.net/s/simon_and_garfunkel/.html
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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jo_silverhawk Average |
#1 by jo_silverhawk at Oct 31, 1970 at 4:31 AM EST |
| I want this song played at my funeral | |
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Ben Wanna Be |
#2 by Ben Koss at Aug 18, 1971 at 8:50 AM EST |
| Beautiful. Made me cry this song did the first time i heard it. 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 ^ My fave part of the song...so beautiful | |
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brennan Average |
#3 by brennan collins at Aug 30, 1971 at 6:25 PM EST |
| I interpret this song slightly different. I feel it is an allusion to Plato's "Allegory of the Cave." While the ideas of commercialism (the people bow and pray to a neon god they made, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, etc) run throughout the poem, it also has to do with a frustration the narrator feels with humans in general. They are content to "hear without listening," not willing or interested in focusing on anyone or anything too intently. They are not willing to go beyond the superficial, but merely to accept the world around them, as no one "dares disturb the sounds of silence." The allusion comes into play in the beginning, as the narrator has a revelation, a vision, that awakes him from this superficial, merely shadowed world. He rises, walks alone as the man in Plato's story did, and he sees the light. He tries to tempt others out of the cave of ignorance and look beyond teh surface of things, but his "words like silent raindrops" fall. His attempts are futile. That's what I got out of the song, my two cents ^_^ An amazing song no matter how you interpret it! | |
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The Great South Lead Player |
#4 by The Great Southern Trendkill at Dec 25, 1971 at 4:46 PM EST |
| ackleykid, This song was actually on a "100 worst songs of all time" list, although I forget what magazine. What BS. such an amazing song, though. I agree with the Genovese theory, that does seem to corrospond with the song. She was killed right outside her apartment complex, and if my memory serves me right... the killer actually LEFT for a few minutes, then came back to "finish her off." Still, all of the 38 people that witnessed the act or heard her screams did nothing until after she was dead. | |
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Brian Average |
#5 by Brian Dempsey at Apr 15, 1979 at 1:10 AM EST |
| I think it just means that we're advancing so far and fast we don't have time to stop. | |
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Matt Wanna Be |
#6 by Matt Sakrosky at Nov 13, 1980 at 8:06 PM EST |
| im never gonna read or buy Blender Magazine now if i can help it. | |
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Alexxx <3 Lead Player |
#7 by Alexxx <3 at Nov 5, 1982 at 2:29 AM EST |
| so some guys at blender magazine happen to be tone deaf... poor blokes... they're talking without speaking, they're hearing without listening... This song is so definitely on my list of top 5 all time greats... its incredibly relevant in our lives | |
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Neal Average |
#8 by Neal Breen at May 13, 1987 at 2:21 AM EST |
| The people at blender magazine are dumb bastards, first of all, second of all they listen to bad music. I mean, come on, LL Cool J? Ladies Love Cool James? Blender does, at least. Oh yeah, and I like this song. | |
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Chase Wanna Be |
#9 by Chase Hendrix at Jan 24, 1989 at 8:09 PM EST |
| I agree with Mr. Mojo. The song talks about people not having good communication. I also agre with weezerific, because I'm 15 and enjoy many different types of music. | |
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Dale :D Average |
#10 by Dale :D O' Mondo Of DOOM!!! at Dec 23, 1992 at 2:01 PM EST |
| That is a brilliant comment Matty! | |
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MysticCat Wanna Be |
#11 by MysticCat (Janis *johnny* Udodovs) at May 6, 1993 at 5:31 AM EST |
| it makes me think of the graduate. it's a great song... | |
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Ale Wanna Be |
#12 by Ale Rosado at Jul 27, 1993 at 4:29 PM EST |
| everytime i hear the song, i always see a guy walking around in his own head but it's like a city and all the people are himself, like in being john malcovich. i thought the neon sign was some sort of false thought that keeps the guy from seeing the truth about himself and breaking down. I dunno. I considered the communication theory but i wanted a more personal meaning. plus there's the two guitar's going at once. sort of the duality between what the guy tells himself and what the truth about himself really is. | |
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«™†Rob†™» Average |
#13 by «™†Rob†™» at Dec 27, 1993 at 5:28 AM EST |
| we listened to this song in nursing school.. before we did our psych rotation.. and later in life.. when i learned of some mental illness that i had myself.. i understood this song soo much more.. it reaches a place down inside the body and soul.. and touches my very spirit.. it lets me know that i am not the only one who feels the way i do.. and that no matter how alone i am feeling.. and how scared.. there were ppl feeling this way long ago.. and ppl will still feel this way again.. i am not alone.. this song almost makes me feel normal.. and thats hard to do.. if you knew me.. you would know why.. lol.. | |
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Mike Average |
#14 by Mike Fraguglia at Dec 26, 1998 at 12:16 AM EST |
| This song is definitely about how people can't communicate and everyone is so content in their own little world that they don't bother to look around once in a while.. i just don't really understand the last verse about what the signs said. | |
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Drennan Professional Badass |
#15 by Drennan Bragg at Apr 21, 1999 at 1:33 PM EST |
| silence has never been so interesting | |
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Jarrett Lead Player |
#16 by Jarrett Sandlin at Dec 29, 1999 at 9:54 PM EST |
| I am 13 and just got into eight grade, and this is my # 1 Favorite song. and Paul simon is my idol. his Poetic songs make me think for days on end. And he said something like, the song is about mans inability to communicate with one another, however its my belief that this song is about a lot more than that. Jim | |
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Dan Wanna Be |
#17 by Dan Z at May 1, 2000 at 7:43 PM EST |
| It doesn't matter what age you are to listen to great music! I'm only 13 and I love this song!! Anyway, I just think this song is about people not communicating with each other... | |
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(DDD Bass Gu Rhythm Player |
#18 by (DDD Bass Guitar/Backup Vocals) Jeff Fritts at May 11, 2001 at 8:03 AM EST |
| I heard it was about t.v. I don't really know, it kinda works.. but it seems too deep for just being about "television". But it's a truly good song. | |
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Toby Musical Thunder |
#19 by Toby at Jun 3, 2001 at 8:03 PM EST |
| One of the very few songs that can bring me to tears.... I've always loved quoting parts of it to people, then interpreting it to them. (cause they usually don't get it!) Good music never grows old, that's what I've discovered... | |
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Mike Average |
#20 by Mike at Oct 30, 2002 at 9:57 AM EST |
| I don't know how anyone could DISLIKE this song. | |
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Steve Wanna Be |
#21 by Steve Smyth at Dec 24, 2005 at 12:37 PM EST |
| I think it just means that we're advancing so far and fast we don't have time to stop. | |
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Eric Rhythm Player |
#22 by Eric at Feb 24, 2006 at 4:27 AM EST |
| i love this song..i think the best part is "and the people bowed and prayed to the neon got they made" | |
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Troy Wanna Be |
#23 by Troy Erskine at Feb 17, 2007 at 4:34 AM EST |
| ok, i'm 17 and love the song. now, i too agree with Mojo, but there's one thing i don't really understaind: i don't think people don't communicate well 'cause noone dears to break the silence. i think the problem these days is peaple shouting too loud to hear (or to see or notice) someone else.too bad Simon blamed the Silence | |
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KELSO Wanna Be |
#24 by KELSO Is a COOL kid at Sep 30, 2007 at 11:33 PM EST |
| i'm 15 and this is my alltime fav. paul simon is a musical genius. i loved how at the grammy's simon and garfunkel opened and then came dustin hoffman - it just made me think of how great art of the part was - then of coarse they brought out no doubt and killed the moment... | |
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$~Andrew~$ Average |
#25 by $~Andrew~$ at Oct 1, 2007 at 10:55 AM EST |
| youre repeating yourself... =oP | |
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i wud give da w Wanna Be |
#26 by i wud give da world 2 frankie if it was mine! at Oct 1, 2007 at 5:30 PM EST |
| I still dont know what this song means! But it fucking rules! | |
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Cory Wanna Be |
#27 by Cory at Oct 2, 2007 at 4:48 AM EST |
| you're right this song is about lack of communication between people, but it does deal with specifics. the vietnam war was going on at this time and simon and garfunkel were known to dislike war. this song was written to encourage people to speak out for what they believed in | |
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The Masta The Muther F*ing Masta! |
#28 by The Masta at Oct 2, 2007 at 4:54 AM EST |
| but what's this song's connection to the graduate (cause it was played almost constantly throughout the movie)? | |
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Ŧøn¥ Average |
#29 by Ŧøn¥ PiNeDa at Oct 2, 2007 at 9:53 PM EST |
| This, like all their others, is a beautiful song | |
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chris Average |
#30 by chris at Oct 2, 2007 at 11:16 PM EST |
| Wow.. nicely done Matty.. | |
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marc Professional |
#31 by marc at Oct 3, 2007 at 6:39 AM EST |
| This is a great song that I love, and it is very intelligent and poetic. The song uses the imagery of light and darkness to show how people's ignorance and apathy destroys their ability to communicate even on simple levels. Its theme is man's inability to communicate with man. The author sees the extent of communication as it is on only its most superficial and "commercial" level (of which the "neon sign" is representative). There is no serious understanding because there is no serious communication - "people talking without speaking - hearing without listening". No one dares take the risk of reaching out ("take my arms that I might reach you") to disturb the sound of silence. The poet's (character in the song) attempts are equally futile (" . . . but my words like silent raindrops fell within the wells of silence"). The ending is an enigma. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence. | |
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Garland Rhythm Player |
#32 by Garland Cross at Oct 3, 2007 at 9:09 AM EST |
| Actually, Simon and Garfunkel were singing about Kitty Genovese--a New Yorker who was killed in the street screaming for help. When she was finally dead and the police came, 38 people admitted to hearing her screams for help. But yeah... it's probably just an example of people and their mixed-up priorities... probably due to the 20th century "stuff" we've got now. | |
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batman Average |
#33 by batman chum at Oct 5, 2007 at 8:49 AM EST |
| I think it just means that we're advancing so far and fast we don't have time to stop. | |
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marvin Lead Player |
#34 by marvin at Oct 6, 2007 at 4:31 PM EST |
| I read actually that Paul wrote it right after he heard that Kennedy was assasinated and used that as his inspiration. You can go ahead from there. The darkness he refers to is actually the darkness he played in while developing his guitar skills as a young teen in his bathroom(This is completely true trust me) so he went back there to compose this song because it was composed before he went to england in 62-63ish. Thats all Im saying for now but WILL BE BACK | |
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Angus Rhythm Player |
#35 by Angus Young at Oct 7, 2007 at 11:27 AM EST |
| wow i was going to write something about this song but someone above put it into words for me. thanks, that's exactly what i got out of the song too! decreasing ability to communicate to our fellow human beings will eventually wither into an eternal "sound of silence." | |
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Sam Wanna Be |
#36 by Sam Payne at Oct 7, 2007 at 11:08 PM EST |
| The first few lines, "Hello, darkness my old friend,/I've come to talk with you again" really intrigue me. Whatever interpretation you have of the song as a whole, this seems like he's withdrawing into the darkness to discuss all the problems of the world. | |
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Luke Professional |
#37 by Luke Goudreault at Oct 9, 2007 at 12:40 PM EST |
| wtf? 42nd worse song? thats such shit. It goes to show that today people don't appreciate true art and good music with meaning. It's rap and heavy metal that ruins all that is pure. That just pisses me off so bad | |
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taris Average |
#38 by taris leoncho at Oct 10, 2007 at 9:18 PM EST |
| Pretty sharp, Mr.Mojo. Kinda young for an S&G fan, too, aren't ya? | |
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Frost Wanna Be |
#39 by Frost Bite at Oct 11, 2007 at 1:25 PM EST |
| hey..you're never too young for good music. | |
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Dan Average |
#40 by Dan Johnson at Oct 12, 2007 at 8:41 AM EST |
| This song was written in reaction to the assination of John F. Kennedy. | |
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Jared Wanna Be |
#41 by Jared van Eck at Oct 13, 2007 at 8:24 AM EST |
| Excellent perspective, Matty. This song always makes me think and you added some new ideas to my viewpoint. This site needs more comments from people like you, not just, "This song is awesome!" Way to add some substance.... | |
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Micke Lead Player |
#42 by Micke Nordin at Oct 13, 2007 at 7:08 PM EST |
| It was Blender Magazine who ranked it as the 42nd worst song ever. That is worse than "I'm too sexy" if you can believe that. It is almost blasphame against these gods of the musical world | |
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Nikola Rhythm Player |
#43 by Nikola Supukovic at Oct 14, 2007 at 7:20 AM EST |
| I adore this song. "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 That is probably my favorite stanza because it is showing that people really don't care about learning new things. They stick with what is familiar, and what they know and are comfortable with. This stantza seems to be expressing some sort sadness for this instinct to embrace only the familiar. Paul Simon is truly an inspiration. | |
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Marks Average |
#44 by Marks at Oct 15, 2007 at 9:29 AM EST |
| Another song based (at least in part) on the Genovese case is "A Small Circle of Friends" by Phil Ochs. The Ochs song is also more generally about people's indifference to the suffering of others. | |
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quinn almann ' Wanna Be |
#45 by quinn almann ' jk carson at Oct 17, 2007 at 9:01 AM EST |
| Actually, Simon and Garfunkel were singing about Kitty Genovese--a New Yorker who was killed in the street screaming for help. When she was finally dead and the police came, 38 people admitted to hearing her screams for help. But yeah... it's probably just an example of people and their mixed-up priorities... probably due to the 20th century "stuff" we've got now. | |
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Collin Average |
#46 by Collin at Oct 17, 2007 at 11:37 AM EST |
| The song sound of silence is a lyric that uses imagery and symbolism very heavily. The story of it is that the author has a dream about ten thousand people bowing to a god they made of neon light. The god represents the fake and shallow culture they are building on pop stars and the dollar bill. The media “talks without speaking” and the people “hear without listening” there is a cancer of silence which represents a widespred lack of meaning, in music namely. This is an extreemly well written poem and a good view on what is happening to the media. The so called artists are putting less and less art in their work.Their is mass prostitution of art happening in our culture and we all sit happily starring at the neon light and ignore the real art. I heard a good a good quote the other day i have eno idea who said it but I’ll close with it. “For the culture that tolerates shottyness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity and ignores excellence in plumbing because it is a humble activity. This is their fate. Neither their pipes nor it’s theories will hold water.” | |
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Oliver Average |
#47 by Oliver Taylor at Oct 18, 2007 at 5:52 AM EST |
| beautiful. folkXcore. | |
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jake Professional |
#48 by jake burns at Oct 19, 2007 at 1:35 AM EST |
| The song isn't really about lack of communication, more so of how people are rushing in the world, and not allowing for things to slow down which is what he is trying to emphasize most. mYoOsIc Is LiFe was right on how 'people are in their own world and don't bother to look around'. This song is trying show us how people are in such a hurry, that they are only concentrating on themselves. The line refering to the neon sign is technological advancement, he calls it 'god' because that's all people in society tend to focus on, it's what they're dedicating their lives towards. S&G know what is happening, and what is going to happen in the near future, so they make the first move in trying to 'reach and teach' us. Still, with their efforts, no one listens, ignores them, and continues with their day-to-day, assembly line like lives. The words of the prophets refer to armageddon (end of the world); they are written on the subway walls and tenement halls (a place of habitation for humans, often run down and poorly maintenanced) because they are places with a large volume of people walking in-and-out, and in these places (subway & tenement halls), people aren't paying attention, especially to what is happening and to what will happen. | |
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Dakota Average |
#49 by Dakota Keyes at Oct 19, 2007 at 12:36 PM EST |
| Absolute brilliance. I don't know the actual meaning. I've heard it was about Kitty Genovese's murder. I also heard it was about a man who was disconnected with the world. I've heard the same explanation, which matty motto explains. They are all believable. Blender are idiots. They keep getting worse. | |
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J_ROC Lead Player |
#50 by J_ROC at Oct 19, 2007 at 7:52 PM EST |
| Muah, Carbiner. I salute you. | |
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