don-n-abq's blog

First let us look at Paul Simon's "The 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 '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 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 grow 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 prophets are written on subway walls And tenement halls" And whisper'd in the sounds of silence

First off, I find it somewhat humorous and ironic that a song is about 'silence'. This beautifully written song was done in 1964. Paul wrote all the good songs, both lyrics and music, makes me wonder what the fuck Art did? Although I love the song, I have doubts it was written as one original piece. It seems to be different parts put together, ask Paul if you know him. The biggest thing I take away from this song is that Paul is trying to say, 'don't believe everything you hear, that you are told. Think for yourself.'

That maybe there is a message in silence. But, at the same time you can't have all silence can you? You would go crazy. You need balance, enjoy both, and don't be afraid of either.

Also, it strikes me that people who live in Manhattan might not hear a lot of silence. And maybe Paul wants people to enjoy silence, not always having to have something to listen to. Enjoy yourself! You don't need a prophet.

Certain words in songs, or poetry, can really jump out at you. In this song, beside the obvious title, sound in silence, the words "my eyes were stabbed by the flash", and "that split the light", I find very cleaver.

Okay, lets look at a Neil Peart song, "The Spirit of Radio":

Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion unobtrusive Plays that song that's so elusive And the magic music makes your morning mood Off on your way, hit the open road There is magic at your fingers For the Spirit ever lingers Undemanding contact in your happy solitude [Chorus:] Invisible airwaves crackle with life Bright antennae bristle with the energy Emotional feedback on timeless wavelength Bearing a gift beyond price, almost free

All this machinery making modern music Can still be open hearted Not so coldly charted It's really just a question of your honesty, yeah Your honesty One likes to believe in the freedom of music But glittering prizes and endless compromises Shatter the illusion of integrity [Chorus] For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall Concert hall And echoes with the sounds of salesmen Of Salesmen Of Salesmen!

SIDE NOTE: Note that tempo change! Oh, I love songs with good tempo changes!

What a great song, or poem. This is Neil's tribute to his craft, a tribute to music. There is also a little tribute to Paul in the very last verse. Compare the last verse, and sing it to "The Sounds of Silence".

It is nice when musicians pay homage to their influences that have come before them.

The song is tight, the words efficient. Unless you are writing a poem to a beat or rhythm, in a song you may have to be more of a word economist than you would have to with a standard poem. You have to make the words fit the rhythm. Neil does this here, and time and again. "Bright antennae bristle with the energy" is a wonderful use of words to describe the transmission process.

Comparing it to Paul's song look at fourth verse. Honesty, freedom, compromises, and "illusion of integrity." Neil, like Paul, is reminding us to remember that this industry is run by people trying to make money, and sometimes what we hear on the radio, TV, and the concert stage may be bent to achieve a monetary end. If the song won't sell, it might never become a record.

Dennis DeYoung of STYX says it more bluntly in his song "The Grand Illusion":

But don't be fooled by the radio
The TV or the magazines
They show you photographs of how your life should be
But they're just someone else's fantasy

Dennis flat out says that it is all bullshit on a live record. While Neil and Paul are more subtle about it, they have a similar theme. This message needs to be emphasized more than every with the rise of "reality TV". I just hope people realize what can be done with editing. So, enjoy the entertainment, but just remember it's not 'gospel'.

Okay, go listen to something, put on your headphones and...............TURN IT UP..!!!!!!!

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Currently listening:
Permanent Waves
(Review: Greg Prato @ Allmusic)
By: Rush
Release date: January 1, 1980
Remastered CD Release: May 6, 1997