The Song Meaning Thread

Pet_Sounds · 03-06-2014, 02:39 PM

As far as I can tell, this is not a duplicate of an existing thread. Basically, if you'd like to discuss a song's meaning with MB members, post a YouTube video and, ideally, the lyrics here. I'll start us off in a moment...

Pet_Sounds · 03-06-2014, 03:03 PM

The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel

The lyrics are on the video, so I won't post them again.
To me, this song is about peple in a hurry, carrying out their daily routines, because they do it automatically. All of them have a nobler goal in the back of ther minds, but nobody ever focuses on it. Hence "writing songs that voices never share". The progression from cobblestones to neon lights symbolizes the progress of civilization; the cobblestones of Europe to the neon lights of New York. You know how in a dream, you can never shout? That's the line "my words like silent raindrops fell". Our narrator has admitted that it's a dream, a vision. He tries to warn them... but they are just out of reach. And in all our progress, true silence has become so rare that it is a myth.
Probably all balderdash, but it's not bad for seat-of-the-pants interpretation. I am still clueless about the last verse.
Thoughts?

Isbjørn · 03-06-2014, 03:24 PM

Damn, I just thought it was about literal silence

Black Francis · 03-06-2014, 04:07 PM

I think your interpretation of the symbols is dead on but i think if you consider the remaining verses he is saying that true wisdom remains in the sounds of silence.

That's why he says

"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"

They couldn't hear his wisdom because the people were to busy focusing on progress therefore his voice got lost in the forgotten silence

And when he says it grows like a cancer i think he means that ignorance grows like a cancer because all the wisdom remains unsaid in the sounds of silence.

and that's why at the culmination in the end when ppl pray for the neon god for wisdom he reveals this words

"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence"

that's my interpretation of the song.

Tristesse · 03-06-2014, 04:26 PM

It's about tits.

Black Francis · 03-06-2014, 05:49 PM

Here is a song i never quite figured out (The lyrics are in the vid)

i think in the first verse he is talking about a small town hipster boy who meets a hipster girl and he interested in her

then in the second verse they describe the girl as an atheist girl who dreams of leaving their small town

Then when the chorus says:

"I don't know where you get your nerve
I don't know how you choose your words"

I think that means they still don't know each other well but they're still trying to form a bond

idk that's the gist of what i get from the lyrics i could be wrong

i think i should've chosen a more popular song i don't think anyone is gonna care about this except me

Moss · 03-06-2014, 09:56 PM

I love me some GBV but I have never really tried to figure out Pollards lyrics.

03-06-2014, 02:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,488	The Song Meaning Thread As far as I can tell, this is not a duplicate of an existing thread. Basically, if you'd like to discuss a song's meaning with MB members, post a YouTube video and, ideally, the lyrics here. I'll start us off in a moment... __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease

03-06-2014, 03:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,488	The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel The lyrics are on the video, so I won't post them again. To me, this song is about peple in a hurry, carrying out their daily routines, because they do it automatically. All of them have a nobler goal in the back of ther minds, but nobody ever focuses on it. Hence "writing songs that voices never share". The progression from cobblestones to neon lights symbolizes the progress of civilization; the cobblestones of Europe to the neon lights of New York. You know how in a dream, you can never shout? That's the line "my words like silent raindrops fell". Our narrator has admitted that it's a dream, a vision. He tries to warn them... but they are just out of reach. And in all our progress, true silence has become so rare that it is a myth. Probably all balderdash, but it's not bad for seat-of-the-pants interpretation. I am still clueless about the last verse. Thoughts? __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease

03-06-2014, 03:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Damn, I just thought it was about literal silence __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

03-06-2014, 04:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	I think your interpretation of the symbols is dead on but i think if you consider the remaining verses he is saying that true wisdom remains in the sounds of silence. That's why he says "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" They couldn't hear his wisdom because the people were to busy focusing on progress therefore his voice got lost in the forgotten silence And when he says it grows like a cancer i think he means that ignorance grows like a cancer because all the wisdom remains unsaid in the sounds of silence. and that's why at the culmination in the end when ppl pray for the neon god for wisdom he reveals this words "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sounds of silence" that's my interpretation of the song. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-06-2014, 05:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	Here is a song i never quite figured out (The lyrics are in the vid) i think in the first verse he is talking about a small town hipster boy who meets a hipster girl and he interested in her then in the second verse they describe the girl as an atheist girl who dreams of leaving their small town Then when the chorus says: "I don't know where you get your nerve I don't know how you choose your words" I think that means they still don't know each other well but they're still trying to form a bond idk that's the gist of what i get from the lyrics i could be wrong i think i should've chosen a more popular song i don't think anyone is gonna care about this except me __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-06-2014, 09:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Moss Scuttle Buttin' Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boulder Colorado Posts: 972	I love me some GBV but I have never really tried to figure out Pollards lyrics.