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 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

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 sound of silence