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Rating: Yes… yes… OK… all right… I know… it's from 1966, it's prehistoric! However, while browsing the database, I found “The Doors," “Led Zeppelin I," “The Velvet Underground & Nico” so I thought of writing about these two (also because their reviews weren't present: a scandal!). “Sounds Of Silence" represents the second work of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. After their debut album “Wednesday Morning, 3 AM", which was highly inspirational, artistically valid but still immature, the duo embarked on the path of folk-rock.
The album contains very valid songs: “Richard Cory,” “Blessed,” “I Am a Rock,” “Somewhere They Can't Find Me”. This is true folk… the guitars and keyboards do a great job and Simon's voice perfectly matches Garfunkel's, all presented with a unique delicacy in stark contrast to Bob Dylan's style. Listening to the unforgettable “Kathy's Song” and “April Come She Will”, true moments of artistic ecstasy, your skin can't help but vibrate to the rhythm of the folk guitar strings.
Simon’s experience gained in England explodes in these masterpieces where we can find his entire life on the road, songs thought and written in the freezing English stations, the refined technique in bars for a few pounds… But Paul is not just that: he is not a simple Dylan, he doesn't write down everything that passes through his mind, Paul is also a dreamer, a visionary, an intellectual with a deep artistic vein, the same artistic vein that leads him to compose “The Sound Of Silence” one of the most poignant and sad songs ever, the song that is poetry, the poetry that is rock. For once, I can say “thank you record label!” The song in question was supposed to remain buried in a “poor” version on the first album “Wednesday Morning, 3 AM”, but Columbia heard the rustle of dollars within the sound of silence and decided to publish it in “Sounds Of Silence” in a folk version without the duo's knowledge.
I don't know if I've conveyed the idea, maybe I got too carried away, but at least I've left a mark of these two artists and their true debut album… oh, how I hate Greatest Hits!!! Well… the lyrics are worth it! It's poetry!
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 turn 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 silenceAnd 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
No one dared
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 silenceAnd the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence"
BYE!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bridge Over Troubled Water (04:52)
When you're weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
04 Benedictus (02:38)
Benedictus qui est venit
In nomine Domini
In nomine
In nomine
In nomine Domini
In nomine Domini
In nomine
In nomine
In nomine Domini
05 Go Tell It on the Mountain (02:07)
Hallelujah!
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
Jesus Christ is born
Down the lonely manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
(repeat chorus)
While shepherds kept their watch
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shown a holy light
(repeat chorus and 1st verse)
(repeat chorus)
07 Sparrow (02:48)
Who will love a little sparrow?
Who's travelled far and cries for rest?
"Not I," said the oak tree
"I won't share my branches with no sparrow's nest,
And my blanket of leaves won't warm her cold breast."
Who will love a little sparrow?
And who will speak a kindly word?
"Not I," said the swan
"The entire idea is utterly absurd,
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the other swans heard."
And who will take pity in his heart?
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
"Not I," said the golden wheat
"I would if I could but I cannot I know,
I need all my grain to prosper and grow."
Who will love a little sparrow?
Will no-one write her eulogy?
"I will," said the earth
"For all I've created returns unto me,
From dust were ye made and dust ye shall be."
08 The Sound of Silence (03:06)
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 shared
And no one dared 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 sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls, and whispered in the sounds of silence."
09 Peggy-O (02:26)
As we marched down to Faneri-o
As we marched down to Faneri-o
Our captain fell n love with a lady like a dove
And they called her name, pretty Peggy-o
Come a runnin' down the stairs, pretty Peggy-o
Come a runnin' down the stairs, pretty Peggy-o
Come a runnin' down the stairs, combin' back
your yellow hair
You're the prettiest little girl I've ever seen-o
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o
In a carriage you will ride, with your true love by
your side
As far as any maiden in the ar-e-o
What will your mother say, pretry Peggy-o?
What will your mother say, pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother say, when she finds you've
gone away
To places far and strange to Faneri-o?
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o
If ever I return, all your cities I will burn
Destroying all the ladies in the ar-e-o
Destroying all the ladies in the ar-e-o
12 Cecilia (02:56)
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia
Up in my bedroom (making love)
I got up to wash my face
When I come back to bed
Someone's taken my place
Oh Cecilia, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily
Oh, Cecilia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home
Come on home
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing,
Jubilation, she loves me again,
I fall on the floor and I'm laughing
13 The Boxer (05:10)
I am just a poor boy.
Though my story's seldom told,
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles,
Such are promises
All lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.
When I left my home
And my family,
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station,
Running scared,
Laying low,
Seeking out the poorer quarters
Where the ragged people go,
Looking for the places
Only they would know.
Lie-la-lie...lie-le-lie-le-lie-le-lai.... lai-le-lai...........lai-le-lai-lelelelelai-lelelelelaiii
Asking only workman's wages
I come looking for a job,
But I get no offers,
Just a come-on from the whores
On Seventh Avenue
I do declare,
There were times when I was so
lonesome
I took some comfort there.
Lie-la-lie...
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And wishing I was gone,
Going home
Where the New York City winters
Aren't bleeding me,
Leading me,
Going home.
In the clearing stands a boxer,
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame,
"I am leaving, I am leaving."
But the fighter still remains
Lie-la-lie...
14 Baby Driver (03:16)
My daddy was the family bass man,
My mamma was an engineer,
And i was born one dark grey morn with music coming in my ears, in my ears,
They call me baby driver,
And once upon a pair of wheels i hit the road and i'm gone,
Watch my number, i wonder how your engines feel
Ba ba ba baa,
Scoot down the road,
Watch my number, i wonder how your engines feel
Shine a light
Ouuuu ouuuuu ouuuuu oueee ooooe.......
My daddy was a prominant frog man,
My mamma's in the naval reserve,
When i was young i carried a gun but i never got the chance to serve,
I did not serve,
They called me baby driver,
and once upon a pair of wheels,
I hit the road and i'm gone,
watch my number, i wonder how your engines feel,
Ba ba ba baa
Scoot down the road,
Watch my number, i wonder how your engines feel
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...ba ba ba baa,
My daddy got a big promotion,
My mamma got a raise in pay,
There's no one home, we're all alone, oh come to my room and play,
Yes we can play,
I'm not talking about your pigtails,
But i'm talking 'bout your sex appeal,
I hit the road and i'm gone,
Watch my number, i wonder how your engine feels,
Ba ba ba baa
Scoot down the road, watch my number, i wonder how your engines feel.
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