The Sound Of Silence – Paul Simon (the small numbers indicate the number of beats)

Am2 G4 Am2

Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again,

C2 F1 C1 C2 F1 C1
Because a vision softly-y creeping, left its seeds while I wa-as sleeping,

F4 C2
And the vision …. that was planted in my brain

Am2 C2 G2 Am2
Still remains ….. within the sound … of silence.

Am G Am

In restless dreams I walked alone, narrow streets of cobblestone.

C F C F Am
'Neath the halo of a-a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp,

F C
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light

Am C G Am
That split the night … and touched the sound … of silence.

Am 2 G4 Am2

And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more.

C2 F1 C1 C2 F1 C1
People talking witho-ut speaking, people hearing witho-ut listening,

C2 F4 C2
People writing songs … that voices never share

Am2 C2 G2 Am2
And no one dare … disturb the sound … of silence.

Am G Am

"Fools" said I, "You do not know, silence like a cancer grows.

C F C F C
Hear my words that I mi-ght teach you. Take my arms that I mi-ght reach you."
F C

But my words … like silent raindrops fell,

Am C G Am
... and echoed … in the wells … of silence.

Am2 G2 Am2

And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made.

C2 F1 C1 C2 F1 C1
And the sign flashed out i-its warning, in the words that it wa-as forming.

C2 F4 C2
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

Am2 C2 G2 Am2
And tenement halls. And whisper'd … in the sound … of silence. “

Prepared by Mike Martin