This dude (Paul Simon) is like one of the most respected songwriters of all time.

I’ve never heard that S&G was thought of as “silly”? One of the greatest songwriter/singer duos ever. Paul Simon is one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever.

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."

People who want to make S&G "Silly" are disturbed and insecure. Those two made so much beautiful music between the fights and disputes. Their voices blend so well (like their idols, the Everly Brothers), Paul's all-pro songwriting, and the production all mesh to form some serious beauty and meaning. If what you held in your mind is derived from memes -- well, I'm very happy for you that you're finally checking it out for yourself 😊. Note how Paul's lower harmony is almost monotone but Art Garfunkel's higher part is all over the place but fits perfectly.

Wow, dude... I had no idea that S&G were held with such little regard by the younger generations. That’s really a very sad statement on the way pop culture has devolved. These guys are pure gold ✨️

Simon was a master storyteller.

It's a beautiful and powerful song. Not a bit silly.

I'm sorry - but who thinks Sound of Silence is silly? SILLY!? My brain just short circuited when you said that. It's one of the most profound songs ever written and Paul Simon is a master of his craft. He's a poet, an incredible guitar player and has written some of the most beautiful songs you'll ever hear. S&G together rose beyond their musical roots into the realms of pure art. Silly.......... it almost makes me cry to hear that.

Paul Simon sang this live at the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 ceremony at ground zero. It’s absolutely brilliant. One of the truly great songs of all time.

Such a beautiful, haunting song. Thanks for checking it out. Those of us that grew up in the 60’s & 70’s always had Simon & Garfunkel on our playlists….especially this song.

Even though you’d “heard” it, you’d never “listened” to it. And when you “listened”, everything that you thought you knew about it changed. Great reminder of the importance of LISTENING! You listen better than any other reactor out there 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Congrats btw, on the Subs! Keep bringing the sincere & quality analysis!!! You’ll be at 100k soon!

Never ever heard of S&G as being “ silly “. Paul Simon is a true poet and their harmonies are golden. There is the sadness expressed at the lack of communication between people. Nothing silly about their music!

Paul Simon was a musical genius + a terrific poet. #theMasters

Have heard this thousands of times since a was a young kid. The simplicity and pure feeling makes this song so powerful.

As someone who had access to this record for 50 years, and it still makes me wipe a tear, try listening to the cover by Disturbed. An emotional experience

This song still stops you in your tracks, one of their best. For another, try the Boxer, a true classic from these 60s Ikons. Enjoy! 🎵🎤🎤🎶

Hi! Thank you for this reaction. I studied Paul Simon's poetry (songs) in university. He's one of the foremost poets of his generation. He has written so many amazing songs, amazing in their musicality, rhythms, and lyrics. Each one is unique in every way. This is one of my favorites. I think this is possibly about (the irony of) non-communication in a world of high-tech communications. No one speaks with one another any more. In fact, try to reach someone on the phone! Or the issue of technology taking away our humanity. But on an even more serious note, it could actually be about nuclear war.

I've never heard S&G described as "silly" and "not very good". They were transcendentally talented.

Nice to see this reaction. When I've seen Paul interviewed and they ask him "Where did this song come from?" Paul answers he doesn't know. Poetic as F---. LOL My take of the "sound of silence" phrase is that it refers to non-engagement. Not partaking in life. Not connecting. "The words of the prophets are written on subway walls and tenement halls" Almost a premonition of hip hop. BTW - both Simon and Garfunkel are NY boys. Sometimes really powerful songs are kind of quiet.

The song is about lack of connection between people. It was a flop when it first came out, but a recording engineer added a small amount of electric guitar and drums and rereleased it and it became a huge hit. Paul Simon is a great, poetic writer, and Art Garfunkel's beautiful voice suits his words perfectly. Try "The Boxer", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", or "The Only Living Boy in New York". (and yes, they're from NYC)

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" performed live is another must by this duo.

Paul Simon is one of the most important people in music. Ever.

The studio version rockifies it a bit more with a fleshed-out arrangement. It has drums, bass, & electric guitar. This song is prophetic. It was written long before screens, computers, cel-phones, etc. They were looking ahead.

Now you need to hear the live cover of this by Disturbed on the Conan show. Paul Simon praised them for their cover.

Paul Simon was (is) a great songwriter, really one of the best of his generation among Dylan and Joni Mitchell. His musical styles really drew from all kinds of influences as a solo artist, from folks to R & B to Afropop and "world" music. Worth a much deeper dive.

Simon and Garfunkel are from New York. They started singing together as young teenagers. Garfunkel has an angelic voice, and Simon is one of America's best poets/songwriters. When they started out they had one foot in the American folk song movement, and their first couple of albums included some traditional songs and arrangements along with Simon's original compositions. Their later album were more "produced" with lots of added effects and studio instrumentals. I absolutely love Paul Simon's use of words and poetic imagery and his lyrical, singable melodies are universally heartwarming.

This isn’t the studio version. Its the acoustic version they used for the movie The Graduate

Since you generally prefer music with a harder edge, I would recommend the cover of this song by the metal group Disturbed. They do a fantastic job of covering this classic gem and instill a lot of anger and rage into it. The original was a warning. Disturbed’s version is anger that the warning went unheeded.

Simon & Garfunkel's songs are fantastic. If young people think they are 'silly' then that shows the level of their knowledge and maturity.

I love Simon & Garfunkel. You really should try some more. They do a lot of different sounds. Check out the songs Hazy Shade of Winter or Baby Driver if you want something that rocks a bit.

The studio version is my favorite, and it is the one that went to Number 1.

Yes, as suggested below, please review this song covered by the heavy metal group 'Disturbed', preferably the live version on Conan O'Brien. 😳 Paul Simon liked this cover, one of the few he approved of. The acapella group 'Pentatonix' also does a credible cover.😊

Pretty much any track written by Paul Simon is a poetic track. America, The Boxer, Still Crazy After All these Years, etc etc etc

I never heard this version before. The version that's always on the radio has drums that kick in with the second verse.

S&G have five amazing albums full of this level of poetry. Their best is "Book Ends," which includes "Mrs. Robinson." True, they don't have the electric guitar of Led Zeppelin, but Simon's accoustic guitar is often pretty on point.

Paul Simon is one of the greatest lyricists of all time.

I am Gen X, from NYC, classic rock fan. THis is considered a VERY serious song. I can't remember if you did RUSH, Spirit of Radio, but they paid tribute to this song in one of the lyrics.

React to The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel you'll be amazed at the accompaniment of sounds

It's such a great song if you listen to the lyrics and don't just hear without listening. 😉

Paul Simon's writing is really good. Even in more prosaic songs like for example "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". He captures the tone of conversation perfectly, concisely. A great artist. Another poetic song of his worthy of a check out is, "The Boxer" off of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Paul Simon is rightfully acknowledged as one of the foremost songwriters ever, and he and Art’s harmonies are otherworldly. There are countless examples of their genius; be sure to check out “The Boxer” (studio version)…”America”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Some lesser known absolute gems are “Bleaker Street” (where a shadow touches a shadow’s hand); “The Dangling Conversation”…and “I Am A Rock”. Just powerful, haunting, poetic music. I do know that Don Everly of the Everly Brothers (who died recently) was a huge fan and admirer. Phil and Don had the familial harmony that was unparalleled, but Don would always acknowledge others’ talent, and greatly admired not only the harmonies of S&G, but Paul Simon’s writing skill. Boy I can’t imagine a meme of any sort pegging them as “silly”. Wow. Congrats on your discovery. It may be the most rewarding rabbit hole you’ve ever followed. 😎

Try I Am A Rock, Hazy Days Of Winter, I think you'll like them. And yes by Simon & Garfunkel!

It's about the people looking inside themselves too much today instead of looking out . Then we become closer and more united . THAT'S what we were put here for .

Syed, now you're coming to realise that you don't need thundering drums, throbbing bass and amps turned up to 11 to make an impact. These guys did it with soft vocals, acoustic guitars and their secret weapon - words. Yet it hits really really hard. Good choice! Keep those ears open.

S&G are one of the most talented duos ever. Whoever thinks that they are just a silly meme have no idea what they’re talking about.

Have you seen the 1967 hit film "The Graduate". Simon and Garfunkel's songs make up most of the soundtrack. It was a great movie made even greater by their music.

This was their first "acoustic" version. The album (Wednesday Morning 3am) didn't do well commercially, but this single gained popularity on the radio over time. So the track was re-released with a full band; Bass, guitars, drums and a more powerful impact. This re-released version is probably the one everybody knows and is the most popular version. It appeared on their 2nd album "The Sounds Of Silence", released in January, 1966.

Powerful, haunting, poetic, resonant... I love meme culture, but it's sad to think that this timeless song is being taken for granted. Still, those memes will eventually inspire people to go back and listen to the original track, so I can't be upset about it.

Paul Simon is a great songwriter. There are many quite poetic tracks, both from his days singing with Art Garfunkel and from his long solo career. Some of my favorite poetic tracks from the days of S&G include The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water, America, and Kathy's Song. Favorites from his solo career include Me and Julio, American Tune (adapted from an old Bach hymn tune melody), Graceland, and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. He also has great musicianship, and has long been into world music, introducing artists and musical styles from Africa and other places to a wide international audience through his collaborations.

Simon & Garfunkel were marvellous deliverers of Paul Simon's fertile mind garden of poetry. Another expression of the 60's musical revolution. Those today who are not wish they were there then.

What your missing musically is the Disturbed version of this song, it is worth checking out, you will love their version and Paul Simon wrote this at a very young age about people not connecting in a human way as technology advanced,boy was he right about that but check out the Disturbed live on the Conan O'Brien show version it is a masterpiece!

I always took it to mean that the more chaotic the world is, the more alone & disconnected we might feel

This is from their first album. They re-recorded this on their second album, which was called "The Sound of Silence," with more instrumentation.

Thanks for playing this, my favourite, version of the song. This song is one of my favourites.

Their harmonies are ridiculous!!! 😃

This is the acoustic version from their first album, "Wednesday Morning 3 AM". The version that went #1 was the electric version engineered by Roy Hallee and released on their second album, "Sounds of Silence". Same powerful lyrics, but the arrangement made all the difference.

Paul Simon was one of the greatest songwriters and poets. They wanted to sound like the Everly Brothers. Influenced by Dylan who loved their music along with Neil Young. Poetry in music.

Paul 's music is always somewhat cryptic and the melodys are always spot on.

And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls."

Simon is a great lyricist. Among the best.

It's talking about people staying secluded in their own bubble, in their own little worlds and not engaging with others. Isolation and the apathy of the individual towards their fellow human beings. Just look at people today, walking around with their faces stuck in their cell phones. It's message is timeless.

I think its about city life. You could bounce around from the Simon and Garfunkle era to the Paul Simon Solo era. And Garfunkle had one hit and his singing on it is just gorgeous. From just Paul Simon, something my other reaction channel hasnt hit yet, is Me and Julio Down by the School Yard. You can hit it first!! But watch out... it's not a long song. If you pick a long one.... that's not it. Someone added stuff at the beginning and at the end.

One of the most influential pop artists of all time. The memes are as clueless and uninformed as their makers. Check out the original studio version of their masterpiece Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The lyrics are amazing and Garfunkel’s voice will blow you away. It’s not like Zeppelin, but as a fellow Zeppelin lover Bridge Over Troubled Waters is so powerful it gives me chills.

My 10 year old grand daughter said they sound like angels.

No way Simon and Garfunkel are silly. They’re established performers singing the most perfect harmonies and poetic songs. Paul Simon is the genius behind the lyrics and songs. Art Garfunkel adds a perfect beautiful voice to the songs. Listen to “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Boxer”, and “America” among others. They’re both from Queens, New York.

Man that's really sad what you're saying about Simon and Garfunkel being considered silly or a meme or something. I think they're modern-day poets up there with Dylan. This is a great song about how loneliness (the sound of silence) creeps up on a person, and becomes harder and harder to break out of. It even expands on the extent to which this feeling can crush you by pointing out the irony of how modern communication is supposed to connect us all, but doesn't. And how thousands of people are feeling this way. We're all right next to each other and we're all talking but not listening. We're all so alone. No one can break through the loneliness we all feel - no one can disturb the sound of silence. "People writing songs that voices never share" means that people are feeling and experiencing things that they never have a chance to or are able to communicate to other people. Everyone's experiencing their own isolated little world and not connecting with each other. It's almost a prescient song in that way...ahead of its time. This song came out in 1964, and is more relevant now than ever! I figure if you are seeing this song being used as a joke or a meme, the real joke is that an incredibly well-crafted and serious piece of deeply contemplative poetry is being used in a silly context. Such as when they used this song for Gob a few times in Arrested Development. The joke was that a shallow and kind of stupid man was having this incredibly sombre reflection on loneliness and feeling out of place and disconnected in the world. Simon and Garfunkel made a lot of great music together man. If you want to have your mind blown by another one check out The Bridge Over Troubled Water, or I Am A Rock (I Am An Island), or The Only Living Boy in New York. The Boy In The Bubble is another great one, but it's a Simon solo effort. Paul Simon broke out as a solo act in a way that Art Garfunkel really didn't. In fact I consider his solo album "Graceland" to be one of the greatest albums ever - it has a really unique South African sound which was controversial at the time, but there's some truly great music there.

Paul Simon wrote this song when he was just 21 years old. Some people have speculated that the song was a bit prophetic with the Lyrics of: "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." And, . . . "And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made." If you think about it, these lines could very easily describe the scene anywhere you go now. Even inside of your own home with your own family, everyone is looking down at their neon god, their cell phone; where they "talk" to other people without speaking, and they "hear" from people without listening. What do you think? Did Paul Simon have a real vision that manifested into reality? Or, is this just a coincidence?

There’s an interesting version from 1999, I think, where Bob Dylan is on stage with Paul Simon, with whom he did a short series of concerts that year. There is a lovely harmonica solo from Dylan which supplements the haunting melody beautifully.

You should do some Paul Simon solo songs as well. I suggest "Still Crazy After All These Years" for a good entry point.

The thing that's crazy is this song was written in 1964, but listening to it today makes me think of people heads down in their smartphones and not talking to each other, only writing and sharing via social media and the internet. And living in a virtual world. That's not the original meaning, surely, but man, the imagery of the song makes me think of that now.

Great comments by you, I have heard this song many times but your analysis is really helping me to understand it more deeply. Thanks! Beautiful song!

For a sense of the world PS was writing from, give a listen to their next album's song: 7 O'CLOCK NEWS/SILENT NIGHT. Thanks so much for the digging you're doing into this period of muclsical and lyrical creativity. There's so much treasure there for all.

They are superstar musicians…..watch their live show in MSG New York City.

Simon and Garfunkel had amazing songs, some of the best of the sixties. Great reaction. I think it’s about conformity and apathy from a kind of mass brain washing. Mass alienation. The truth is written by anonymous persons on underground walls

The hit single version has a full band, puts the finishing touch on, check it out. Also check out the live version from Central Park concert later on in their career.

Living in the big cities where faceless crowds are rushing without looking at each other and sounds of voices never stopping, only does someone realize what they have lost when they fall into a deep sleep and wonder when did they lose their inner peace when people lived in harmony with each other and closer to nature away from the material world we now live in.

"the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls" is one of the all-time bars imo, it says so much about how the things people so often dismiss (like graffiti on subway walls) are where real truth and beauty can be found, but are ignored every day they've got a million great tracks but i think you'd like Mrs Robinson, also quite famous but more instrumentation and also super poetic. other faves are America, The Boxer, and Wednesday Morning 3AM

The version of this song that I grew up with has a backup band, guitars, bass, drums.

Another note: This mix is different from the mix released for a hit single in 1965 or 66. But I like it! The drums and bass are gone, and the guitar sounds are a little different -- or maybe the engineer included them where they were mixed down in the original.

The silence is isolation, isolation in the crowds of the city, alienation from others…

It sounds like an observation of those that dare not speak out about the perceived authority of those that they are afraid of, even though it is obvious, and they know better. Quite apt for our current times, in many different places...

You should watch Paul Simon performing this live at ground zero being as much a New Yorker as anyone at the ten year anniversary. Great haunting performance.

Couldn't believe the intro to this review! Hope minds have been changed after listening.

Great job,homeboy! Keep keeping it real!!!! Peace 💯

Poetic as fuck. That’s Paul Simon. America is one of the greatest songs ever written, without a single rhyme in it. There are many many others, and then there’s Paul Simon’s solo material. He’s in the same club as Dylan and Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. It’s sad to think that S&G are seen as a joke by younger people. They are not. They’re the real deal, musically and lyrically, and their harmonizing is still unmatched, like the Everly Brothers.

It's "heavy". Thats what we called amazing lyrics and musicality in the 1960's. This is a heavy song.

It's almost like hearing a modern day edgar allen poe, being set to music. I've always seen it as a warning that we are progressing unabatedly to a world we're no one listens, speaks, or communicates effectively with anyone else, that we all end up in our own sound of silence.

I can't imagine why anyone would think S&G are "silly". This is a rabbit hole you need to explore.

You are one of the few reactors who spend the time to analyse the song. Thank you! This song is one of the beautiful songs I listen to when I was in my youth.

So fun to watch your brain work glad you got it in the end

The song is basically about solitude and the impossibility to communicate and connect with people.

Should definitely listen to Bridge Over troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel! You might know of it but maybe never listened to it properly, it’s beautiful!

The song was released during a time in U.S. history (1964) where the young population was pretty upset about war and civil rights. To me, it was a caution to all those who stayed silent in the face of quite a few horrors.

Paul Simon was a legendary poet. Produced some of the best lyrics ever. I have listened to all of their albums. For the most part, their music starts to sound all the same, although the last 2 albums are their best. But they are worth listening to for the lyrics and stories alone.

Dude, you have to check out The Boxer. It's one of my all time favorites. S&G have a lot of good songs, though.

At the very least, the sound of silence is the sounds that your brain invents or recalls when outside there is silence. Song written when Paul Simon touring UK as folk singer mid 1960s. Plenty of narrow cobblestoned streets with few dim streetlights - the neon chippie or Chinese takeaway signs stood out as much brighter on eyes adjusted for the wider gloom. Pubs had closing times so towns shut down about 10.30pm except Friday and Saturday night

Check out the rearranged version on their later album titled The Sounds of Silence to see how quickly their music matured. Wednesday Morning 3:00am was their 1st, with only a few originals mixed in with covers. Paul Simon is a lyrical and musical genius. I would say 2nd only to Bob Dylan.

I think 'talking without speaking ' seems like a prophetic vision of texting!!

Paul Simon was a genius.

I think Garfunkel’s solo career is sort of meme-able next to Simon’s immortality