<P> The song 's origin and basis remain unclear , with multiple answers coming forward over the years . Many believe that the song commented on the John F. Kennedy assassination , as the song was released three months after the assassination . Simon stated unambiguously in interviews however , `` I wrote The Sound of Silence when I was 21 years old '' , which places the timeframe firmly prior to the JFK tragedy , with Simon also explaining that the song was written in his bathroom , where he turned off the lights to better concentrate . `` The main thing about playing the guitar , though , was that I was able to sit by myself and play and dream . And I was always happy doing that . I used to go off in the bathroom , because the bathroom had tiles , so it was a slight echo chamber . I 'd turn on the faucet so that water would run ( I like that sound , it 's very soothing to me ) and I 'd play . In the dark . ' Hello darkness , my old friend / I 've come to talk with you again ' . '' In a more recent interview , Simon was directly asked , `` How is a 21 year old person thinkin ' about the words in that song ? '' His reply was , `` I have no idea . '' According to Garfunkel , Simon originally wrote the lyric as `` Aloha darkness , my old friend . '' Garfunkel once summed up the song 's meaning as `` the inability of people to communicate with each other , not particularly internationally but especially emotionally , so what you see around you are people unable to love each other . '' </P>
what 's the meaning of the song the sound of silence
The song 's origin and basis remain unclear