Origin and original recording The Sound of Silence

paul simon, song s composer, seen here in 1966.

simon , garfunkel became interested in folk music , growing counterculture movement separately in 1960s. having performed under name tom , jerry in late 1950s, partnership had since dissolved when began attending college. in 1963, regrouped , began performing simon s original compositions locally in queens. billed kane & garr , after old recording pseudonyms, , signed gerde s folk city, greenwich village club hosted monday night performances. in september 1963, duo performed 3 new songs, among them sound of silence , getting attention of columbia records producer tom wilson, worked bob dylan. simon convinced wilson let him , partner have studio audition, performance of sound of silence got duo signed columbia.

the song s origin , basis remain unclear, multiple answers coming forward on years. many believe song commented on john f. kennedy assassination, song released 3 months after assassination. simon stated unambiguously in interviews however, wrote sound of silence when 21 years old , places timeframe firmly prior jfk tragedy, simon explaining song written in bathroom, turned off lights better concentrate. main thing playing guitar, though, was able sit myself , play , dream. , happy doing that. used go off in bathroom, because bathroom had tiles, slight echo chamber. d turn on faucet water run (i sound, s soothing me) , d play. in dark. hello darkness, old friend / ve come talk again . in more recent interview, simon directly asked, how 21 year old person thinkin words in song? reply was, have no idea. according garfunkel, simon wrote lyric aloha darkness, old friend. garfunkel once summed song s meaning inability of people communicate each other, not particularly internationally emotionally, see around people unable love each other.

to promote release of debut album, wednesday morning, 3 a.m., duo performed again @ folk city, 2 shows @ gaslight café, went on poorly. dave van ronk, folk singer, @ performances, , noted several in audience regarded music joke. sounds of silence became running joke: while there, necessary start singing hello darkness, old friend... , crack up. wednesday morning, 3 sold 3,000 copies upon october release, , dismal sales led simon move london, england. while there, recorded solo album, paul simon songbook (1965), features rendition of song, titled sounds of silence .

the original recording of song in d♯ minor, using chords d♯m, c♯, b , f♯. simon plays guitar capo on sixth fret, using shapes am, g, f , c chords. vocal span goes c♯4 f♯5 in song.