# What didn’t he like? (Paul Simon, Sound of Silence) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 30, 2024, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598 "2024-03-30T03:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/81 "2024-04-10T00:41:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’d add American Tune to it. Stolen from the best! (Johann Sebastian Bach). (Inspired, really — I’m just funnin’. I like the song as well. And Bach’s melody is likely based on older Lutheran hymns.) ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/82 "2024-04-10T03:33:47Z")
Actually, he stole it from a folk song by Tom Glazer “Because All Men Are Brothers”. Glazer probably knew it as the hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” which was adapted from Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion. And Bach got that from a Lutheran Hymn which used the melody from a secular song by Hans Leo Hassler. Phew! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/83 "2024-04-10T03:51:26Z")
Blame it on the rain that was falling. Blame it on the stars up in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/84 "2024-04-10T11:34:05Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Actually, he stole it from a folk song by Tom Glazer “Because All Men Are Brothers”. > > Glazer probably knew it as the hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” which was adapted from Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion. And Bach got that from a Lutheran Hymn which used the melody from a secular song by Hans Leo Hassler. Phew! Very interesting. A lot of music is ‘borrowed’ from other sources, of course, and sometimes it’s a little too recent and a lawsuit happens. McCartney’s “Blackbird” was inspired by a Bach piece. According to Wiki: “The guitar accompaniment for “Blackbird” was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach’s Bourrée in E minor, a well-known lute piece, often played on the classical guitar. As teenagers, he and tried to learn Bourrée as a “show off” piece. The Bourrée is distinguished by melody and bass notes played simultaneously on the upper and lower strings. McCartney said that he adapted a segment of the Bourrée reharmonized into the original’s relative major key of G as the opening of “Blackbird”, and carried the musical idea throughout the song. The first three notes of the song, which then transitioned into the opening guitar riff, were inspired from Bach.” People who think their music was just fluff have no idea how complex it could be. I’ve tried to learn the intro for “Blackbird” with limited success. I can do it, but it’s slow and far from fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/85 "2024-04-10T13:47:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’d add American Tune to it. American Tune is also one of my favorites. Have you heard Allen Toussaint’s version? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/u6Mv0X-1qLA/maxresdefault.jpg "Allen Toussaint - American Tune (Live on Austin City Limits)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Mv0X-1qLA) ---
**Author:** ![BorealisCooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@BorealisCooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorealisCooper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/86 "2024-04-10T14:00:45Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > I thought it was just that he hated Garfunkel for riding his coat tales, sharing in the royalties for songs for which Simon was the almost exclusive creative force, and so contributing nothing _but_ his voice/instrumentation to the hits that would bear his name alongside Simon’s forever. Garfunkel was one of the best vocalists ever in popular music, so I wouldn’t call his contribution “nothing but his voice”. That voice was a huge contribution to the success of the duo. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/87 "2024-04-10T14:14:29Z")
Wonderful version by an American treasure. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/88 "2024-04-10T17:36:13Z")
Garfunkel had somewhat of a career acting after the split-up. I remember enjoying his performances in _Catch-22_ and _Carnal Knowledge_, and have wondered over the years why he didn’t take on more acting roles. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/89 "2024-04-10T18:27:14Z")
“American Tune” can get confused with “America,” off the _Bookends_ album. “America” is a sublime, haunting song. The vocals and production are also magnificent. The line, “The moon rose over the open field” at 2:07 stands as a peak example of their harmonies. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Eo2ZsAOlvEM/maxresdefault.jpg "Simon & Garfunkel - America (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo2ZsAOlvEM) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/90 "2024-04-10T18:39:41Z")
His cameo on _Flight of the Conchords_ was a riot. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/91 "2024-04-10T20:14:45Z")
Agreed. By far my favorite S&G song. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/92 "2024-04-10T20:21:30Z")
[The Sound of Silence - Peter Hollens feat. Tim Foust (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HboNZ8HFF8) mr. hollens and foust recreate the album picture at the end of their cover. i just love how they ended the song. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/93 "2024-04-10T23:21:56Z")
I had a friend who also thought “America” was the best S&G song, but I couldn’t agree. “The Sound of Silence” (rock version) is a masterpiece and “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” may be the prettiest song of the 60s. Number three is amazing with that competition. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/94 "2024-04-11T01:06:43Z")
I love just about every song on Bookends. Going back a couple years previously, “Blessed” is a standout for me. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/95 "2024-04-11T16:23:46Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > had a friend who also thought “America” was the best S&G song, but I couldn’t agree I think it’s my 2nd-favorite, with everything on BOTW in a tie for 1st. 🙂 I love how the lyrics hit the beats (in 3/4 time, no less) so perfectly … “IT took me FOUR days to HITCHhike from SAGinaw” makes me want to waltz. Just the opposite of Sounds of Silence, in that regard. > [@Chefguy](#): > > I can agree that these are my favorites, as well, especially Late In The Evening, which is a masterpiece of percussion thanks to Steve Gadd. Late in the Evening may be my favorite of his solo work. I’d enjoy an entire album or two of whatever that musical style is that he’s borrowing. (Salsa?) ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/96 "2024-04-11T22:41:21Z")
Simon stressed the wrong syllable throughout “The Sound of Silence,” such as stressing “a” in “halo of a street lamp,” or the unstressed sylabble in “talking” and “listening” and so on. Maybe he was embarrassed by these flaws in his craft? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/97 "2024-04-12T02:56:39Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I think it’s my 2nd-favorite, with everything on BOTW in a tie for 1st. 🙂 I love how the lyrics hit the beats (in 3/4 time, no less) so perfectly … “IT took me FOUR days to HITCHhike from SAGinaw” makes me want to waltz… Nitpick: although you can certainly waltz to it, “America” is in 6/8 time, not 3/4. I know it’s a subtle and technical distinction, but my ear can always pick out a 6/8 song, and I’m a total sucker for a 6/8 song. I’m a huge Paul Simon fan. “Late in the Evening” is my favorite song, but following closely after that is a jumble of 20-30 songs from both the S&G and solo eras. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/98 "2024-04-12T04:07:22Z")
> [@GailForce](#): > > Simon stressed the wrong syllable throughout “The Sound of Silence,” such as stressing “a” in “halo of a street lamp,” or the unstressed sylabble in “talking” and “listening” and so on. Maybe he was embarrassed by these flaws in his craft? Possibly, yes. But I don’t think he ever said that, at least not publicly, did he? The answer was provided upthread, about one line in the lyrics that he loathed. At least, that was what I referred to in the OP but could not recall. Welcome to the Straight Dope! @GailForce we hope you enjoy your time here. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/99 "2024-04-12T04:11:28Z")
People have been mentioning their favorite Paul Simon songs. I stumbled across a time he was on the David Letterman show decades ago, and he sang one of my favorites. While it is an S&G song he did this one solo, and it’s the first time I heard him do it solo (just a few minutes ago). I really like this song. The Boxer [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sIhRWP9L8Oc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHCBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgTShJMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAASyNhAlFwe6oE0eXAxf-OjzwvGw "Paul Simon - "The Boxer" (live), Late Night with David Letterman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIhRWP9L8Oc) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598/100 "2024-04-12T04:13:01Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Nitpick: although you can certainly waltz to it, “America” is in 6/8 time, not 3/4. I know it’s a subtle and technical distinction, but my ear can always pick out a 6/8 song, and I’m a total sucker for a 6/8 song. I’m curious, what’s the distinction? I’m a musician and it seems more like a preference than a real difference. To my ear, anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-didn-t-he-like-paul-simon-sound-of-silence/999598.md?page=6)