Sounds of Silence

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 
Beneath 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 share... 
And 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 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 signs said: "The words of the prophets 
Are written on the subway walls 
And tenement halls, 
And whisper'd in the sound of silence."