1. Hello darkness my old friend

Ami

I've come to talk with you again

because a vision softly creeping

left it seeds while I was sleeping

and the vision that was planted in my brain

still remains within the sound of silence.

2. In restless dreams I walked alone

Ami

narrow streets of cobble-stone

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 spilt the night and touched the sound of silence.

3. And in the naked light I saw

Ami

ten thousand people maybe more

people talking without speaking

people hearing without listening

people writing songs that voices never share

and no one dare disturb the sound of silence.

4. "Fools!" said I "you do not know

Ami

silence like a cancer grows

hear my words that I might teach you

take my armsthat I might reach you."

But my words like silent raindrops fell

and echoed in the wells of silence.

5. And the people bowed and prayed

Ami

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 tenament halls" and whisper'd in the sound of silence.