🎵 1) “The Sound of Silence” · Simon & Garfunkel
Background: This folk classic was recorded in 1964 and became number one in the U.S. two years later.
Its lyrics talk about isolation and the lack of real communication in modern society — where people hear but do not truly listen.
The song uses powerful visual language (darkness, neon lights, prophets, silence) to describe a world full of noise but empty of voices.
Why we study it: clear diction, slow tempo, repeated phrases, and rich metaphors — perfect for pronunciation, vocabulary, and reflection.
▶ Practice on LyricsTraining
Open the game and choose your level.
Don't forget to click on “selection Mode”, and listen carefully.
📘 Mini Dictionary (key words & meanings)
Word / Expression Meaning darkness, my old friend poetic image for loneliness or silence vision a strong mental image; a revelation within inside or enclosed by something, not beyond a specific limit restless unable to rest, full of unease cobblestone small rounded stones used for old streets halo a ring of light around something sacred streetlight a light, typically mounted on a pole, used to illuminate roads and public areas at night neon light / neon god bright signs; metaphor for consumerism stab to pierce or wound with a sharp object tenement halls the entrance of poor city buildings prophets messengers or visionaries warning others whisper to speak very softly echo a reflected sound silence like a cancer grows metaphor: silence spreads and harms bow to bend the head or body in greeting or respect
Guided Translation
Translate each line below. Say it aloud, then write your version in Spanish. Try to keep the emotion of the original.
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 streetlamp 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
Then the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls”
And whispered in the sound of silence
✨ End of this song. We'll choose another one to explore next time!
Background: This folk classic was recorded in 1964 and became number one in the U.S. two years later. Its lyrics talk about isolation and the lack of real communication in modern society — where people hear but do not truly listen. The song uses powerful visual language (darkness, neon lights, prophets, silence) to describe a world full of noise but empty of voices.
Why we study it: clear diction, slow tempo, repeated phrases, and rich metaphors — perfect for pronunciation, vocabulary, and reflection.
Open the game and choose your level.
Don't forget to click on “selection Mode”, and listen carefully.
📘 Mini Dictionary (key words & meanings)
| Word / Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| darkness, my old friend | poetic image for loneliness or silence |
| vision | a strong mental image; a revelation |
| within | inside or enclosed by something, not beyond a specific limit |
| restless | unable to rest, full of unease |
| cobblestone | small rounded stones used for old streets |
| halo | a ring of light around something sacred |
| streetlight | a light, typically mounted on a pole, used to illuminate roads and public areas at night |
| neon light / neon god | bright signs; metaphor for consumerism |
| stab | to pierce or wound with a sharp object |
| tenement halls | the entrance of poor city buildings |
| prophets | messengers or visionaries warning others |
| whisper | to speak very softly |
| echo | a reflected sound |
| silence like a cancer grows | metaphor: silence spreads and harms |
| bow | to bend the head or body in greeting or respect |
Translate each line below. Say it aloud, then write your version in Spanish. Try to keep the emotion of the original.
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 streetlamp 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
Then the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls”
And whispered in the sound of silence
✨ End of this song. We'll choose another one to explore next time!
 “The Sound of Silence” · Simon & Garfunkel Background: This folk class...){kind=link}