“The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed

“The Sound of Silence” is a song we’ve already analyzed awhile back, that being Simon & Garfunkel’s original. And considering that the lyrics to Disturbed’s cover are the same, readers are advised to peep said analysis concerning the meaning of this song.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Disturbed's The Sound of Silence at Lyrics.org.

But that was a post that was written nearly two years ago to date, and we don’t really want to disturb that article too much, as it still reads valid. But one thing that has been noted is that this song experienced a surge in popularity not only when Disturbed’s cover dropped in 2015 but also a few years later, once the coronavirus hit. And within that latter context, perhaps the lyrics can be re-interpreted in different ways.

But of course when Paul Simon actually penned this piece, there wasn’t anything like a pandemic going on in the United States. And what it ultimately speaks to, perhaps most easily explained, is the concept of the masses being reluctant to recognize the words of their prophets. 

And “the sound of silence” itself is an allusion to some type of troubled state not only within the vocalist but also amongst the masses. Maybe the best way to describe this malady, if you will, is as one that causes people to be close-minded and compliant, despite doing so, at least from the vocalist’s perspective, being a dangerous modus operandi in and of itself.

What “The Sound of Silence” is all about

Basically the lyrics are shed light on people not having the ability to emotionally communicate effectively with one other. And this weakness that is inherent in people is the aforementioned troubled state or malady.

Art Garfunkel once revealed that the song centers around communication issues. According to him, it is about people being unable to love one another because of their inability to “communicate with each other” effectively on an emotional level.

Art Garfunkel explains the meaning of "The Sound of Silence"

So basically, whereas the lyrics to “The Sound of Silence” may be intricate, the ultimate idea it is putting forth is a timeless one. And that is the masses being compelled to go along with the flow. And the masses do this even if doing so necessitates them selling their souls so to speak, as opposed to heeding the words of those, like the vocalist, who are genuinely concerned for their wellbeing.

Disturbed, "The Sound of Silence" Lyrics

Facts about “The Sound of Silence”

This song dates back to 1965, being a Simon & Garfunkel classic and one of the big hits in their catalog. But the version we’re working on today is actually a cover by a band called Disturbed. This version came out on 21 August 2015, via Reprise Records. It is featured on the band’s sixth studio album, “Immortalized”.

Disturbed may not be a household name in the music industry. However, they have been in the game since the 1990s and have experienced considerable success along the way. For instance, all five of the studio albums they dropped between 2002 and 2015 topped the Billboard 200. 

Additionally whereas not being as renowned as the original per se, their version of “The Sound of Silence” was a bigger hit. It charted a lot of countries (about 20). Furthermore, it topped the following Billboard charts:

  • Hard Rock Digital Songs 
  • Mainstream Rock

The above is likely partially be due to the fact that the music industry is more global now than then.

Additionally this song achieved worldwide multi-platinum success, i.e. going double-platinum or better in the following countries:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Norway
  • the United States

And Disturbed’s cover of “The Sound of Silence” also received approval from Paul Simon himself.

Moreover, this track went sorta viral during the onset of the coronavirus lockdowns.

The band’s rendition of this classic also made it onto a couple of TV shows, etc. Moreover, the French figure skating team used it during their performance at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The Sound of Silence

David Draiman talks about “The Sound of Silence”

At the time of this track’s issuance, Disturbed consisted of the following members:

  • vocalist David Draiman
  • guitarist Dan Donegan
  • drummer Mike Wengren 

According to Draiman, it was actually Mike Wengren’s suggestion that Disturbed cover this song.

Disturbed's Draiman explains "The Sound of Silence"

41 Responses

  1. Rita Call says:

    I think you are great David. Your voice I could listen to every day. You did that song with a big heart, you really enjoyed it. My thoughts. Keep that voice strong, it’s beautiful

  2. Tammy says:

    Wow! Just wow… I only recently heard this song for the first time. It is phenomenal. I have probably listened to it 20 or more times in the week since I discovered it. Thank you for this beautiful performance and take on this song.

  3. Doug Becker says:

    Sound Of Silence is my all time favorite song. Thank you Simon and Garfunkle. And Disturbed, you nailed it, incredible rendition, could listen to it 25 times/day. Absolutely amazingly performed. Thank you, Disturbed!

  4. Anonymous says:

    With Russia waging war in Ukraine, this song has been on my mind a lot. Disturber’s version had me in tears with goosebumps.

    • Connie says:

      This is how I have felt about the song also. The cries of those In Ukraine asking for help to save their lives and their country, and it seems like people are not really listening to them. They have received help, but only a token of the help they really need.

      • Anonymous says:

        Wow, Wait Till You 2 Find Out The Truth Behind Ukraine & Who’s Doing The Killing… Turn The Boob Tube Off Because They Are Lying. .. It IS Very Sad Because They Hv Rescued Children & Victims From Under Ground Experimental Facilities Uncovered Mass Burial Sites. & Captured Actual Ukranian Nazi Soldiers Who Hv Been Using Civilians As Human Shields Lk The Pu–ys They Are. He Has Surgically Destroyed BioWeapon Labs (We Very Heavily Fund BTW & Biden’s Companies Get His Billions Laundered Thru) That Scheduled To Release More CV Styled Bullshit In The Fall… Right On His Border.. Geared To Slovic DNA.. Hunter’s Laptop Is Going To Prove It To All U Still Sleeping. Guess Who’s Paying For Militants Against The Ppl. I’d Say You Are But You Wouldn’t Understand… So Get Your Head Out Of The Sand & Read… Start With 1984. Wells Was Trying To Warn Us Without Being Taken Out…
        … Put Your Seat Belts On.. This Rides About To Get Wild.. In Order To Shake & Wake You Up.. Turn Off The Propaganda & Get UN Brainwashed…
        … Then Listen To The Song To Realize What THEY HAVE DONE TO US AS HUMAN BEINGS AS A WHOLE!! ..
        Thy’v Killed The Psychi & Trying For Your Spirit.. DON’T LAY DOWN! STAND UP FOR FREEDOM. & Don’t Worry… Putin Just Probably Saved The World… But You’ll Have a Chance To Thk Him After You Learn The REAL STORY ..

        • (The Other) Mr B. says:

          Time to seek professional help, Mr. Anon. Maybe start by showing this post to your medical doctor.

        • Anonymous says:

          Anonymous… AMEN! 🕊

          • Anonymous says:

            All the peoples outside US already well aware of this issue, excepts millions more in the United States. Keep educating urself don’t be a late comer, the chaos in the world all started somewhere in the country, but always the blame will be on others, expertly, carefully, deceitfully. Wake UPPPPP the self proclaimed woken up peoples.

        • Anonymous says:

          I absolutely agree with your assessment, the masses of the decieved follow the pied pipers of media propoganda on the wide path of destruction. THis happened in Nazi Germany and another form of the same tactics are being used today perhaps in a more subtly form. “Woke” is actually being blinded by the satanic powers of darkness, but those who have “eyes to see and ears to hears” the voice of The Holy Spirit and The Word of God will be truly enlightened. True Wisdom from God is The Pearl of great Price, though it may be devalued in the eyes of the masses.

        • Andy says:

          Couldn’t agree more. You are spot on Sir.

        • Ron says:

          If you are brave enough to write such things, (that are complete lies by the way) you should have enough courage to list your name.

  5. Tosha B says:

    I was recently introduced to this song but it has Disney become my favorite. I think I’ve listed to it about 6 times today so far. I’ve always liked this song, but this version..?? Just touches something in your soul.. and the doing it David’s voice is absolutely, stunningly amazing. You can hear the passion (& maybe pain?).
    Beautiful… Just absolutely beautiful. ❤️

  6. Colin says:

    I love this rendition of the song! Disturbed knocked it out of the park and I think that David said Paul Simon himself called him after hearing it and told him this version was top shelf! That is a huge compliment. I love how it is so clean and gets a bit gravely at the end. This song has spoken words in my world as an introvert and how communication sometimes fails. The sound of silence is a real thing as I can hear it daily!

  7. Big Al is an 80+ year old in Minnesota says:

    I am not a what or a who… I am a “when”, an ongoing process of change (desperation is there in contained)
    to become what we were born to be… when we arrive at our final “act of being (reality) our “when” will end,
    but the “process” will go on forever. It has a name. It is called ETERNITY.

    • Morgan says:

      Big Al,
      You are most certainly a ‘someone’, made in the image of an infinite God who loves you. Jesus came to earth and died so that we could be reconciled with God. And if there is anything that describes the loss of our connection and communication with God, it is this song. (and well, the Bible) The Bible says, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good.’ We don’t have to be condemned to the sounds of silence anymore. That is the good news.

  8. Anonymous says:

    iove that song so much Disturbrd did it amazing listen to it so much

  9. Carol McCoy says:

    I could listen to David singing Sounds of Silence all day. It speaks to the depths of my soul in his rendition. I listen/watch his performance on CONAN on TBS from 3/26/16 on YouTube. In my opinion, David’s control of his voice, where he maintains such a rigorous depth and complexity second to none!!

  10. Anonymous says:

    As David describes the meaning to this song, he is describing me for one. Although, I feel in darkness, but I do not like it! I’ve been fighting all my life to find who I am. As a teen, I listened to this song, but did not hear. I have always enjoyed listening to music and emptying my mind.

  11. Anonymous says:

    I remember being a 12 year old kid – back in 1969, and discussing this from an entirely different perspective. People were turning away from morality and from God. The sound of silence was individuals doing their own thing… God planted the vision in my brain – inside these sounds of people turning away from him. I could not convince others of God’s presence. I walked alone… Others were present making bright light and making noise – but it was irrelevant – and not to the Lord. I could see these people in the false light. They were making noise – but not to the Lord. The Lord’s message is there – but they were not hearing it. I told them they were fools… If the Lord’s message is not spread, the good news will be lost to those who probably need it most! A cancer grows… not having the Lord in your life is “not” a good thing. Let me teach you… Let me reach you…, but nobody is listening. And people are bowing and praying to ungodly things… money, possessions, pornography, illicit sex, etc… But you can find God’s word… It is even in the graffiti that you can find painted on the sides of buildings, on walls in the subways, on bus stops, etc… God’s word is there, and it is calling out to us… we just have to find it and listen!

    • Seedz says:

      Absolutely beautiful! I can remember what grade I was in when we sang this in choir; but I remember it having meaning of Jesus Christ to me… I walked alone back then and I still do today, at 53 years old… still sharing His love and hoping to lead souls to Him…. I love the way you describe this… seems pure souls hear that same way. God bless you! ❤️‍🔥🕊

  12. Anonymous says:

    yes, the darkness is a friend, because it’s all ever you’ve known. Alone and in the dark. very sad.

  13. Zack says:

    According to Sanford Greenber, the song has a completely different meaning.

  14. Anonymous says:

    The beginning, “Hello darkness my old friend” was because Garfunkel used to sing in his bathroom with the lights off because of the god acoustics.

    • Singer says:

      No, it was not because of Art Garfunkle, who wrote none of the songs of S&G. Paul Simon was the sole songwriter for the duo. Although I am a Christian, I feel a strong sense of the Jewish faith from the Old Testament, as the writer and the singer are Jewish, in this performance…the quiet suffering the Jewish people have endured, and the brokenness of their history. The song can also be interpreted, Per the video, as musicians and instruments separated by a chasm of water, from the written notes on sheets of music held by the ten thousand, or more. I am not sure who the people on the other shore where the ship is loaded with instruments is headed, but Art always contains mystery. It means different things to each person. I love the video for the symbolism and the live performance for the more musical perfection.

  15. Your biggest fan Leslie Ferrer says:

    Wow,omg, I love 💕💕💕💕 this song,and David, I love your voice. When I first heard you singing this song, I got goose bumps, everytime I hear this song,and I can’t help it I got to play it couple times a day, I have a friend that got excited about this song,and told her sister to listen to your song,but her sister wasn’t interested. I am making plans to see you in concert in Pennsylvania. I can’t wait,and I can’t wait to hear you singing that song. My friend put a whole bunch of Disturbed music on 1 of my devices. I love Disturbed an Five Finger Death Punch. Both of you have beautiful voices,and I enjoy listening to.

  16. J. says:

    I love this song. It also reminds me that we sit and watch in silence while people are hurt, die, starve. But we do nothing, and say we care. We watch the wars but we say nothing to stop them we do nothing and the whole point is we’re not listening and we need to be acting. Saving each other ,loving each other ,not letting someone starve, not watching monks be murdered for their beliefs in silence. We are still not listening 💙🙏🏽💙✌️✌️ if we don’t start trying to love and understand each other it will not work. We have to care. That’s what I got out of it. People that watch and don’t care.

    • Seedz says:

      Yes! We have to all come together! The enemy’s have done enough damage! God has heard our cries! He truly is delivering us from the evil… we have to trust Him and His ways! We have to get through this and praise Him all the way! It won’t be long… Jesus Christ is coming back and all will hear Him Roar! Blessings to you!

  17. M Smith says:

    This version by you David brought tears to my eyes. I play again,again and again.
    Your voice is powerful and sincere.
    Wonderful work

  18. Moondust says:

    It speaks to me as I’m autistic, an introvert who feels like they don’t belong because of being wired differently to the majority.

  19. andre says:

    i love that song his voce brings chills to me when you sing that song you got a big hart my frind my blessing to you

  20. Resonates says:

    “Hello Darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again”

    This song resonates so much with my battle with depression. I honestly think it’s about not being able to speak about what’s going on in your head and it grows like a cancer. The only person you can talk to is yourself. You want to tell people how your feeling but you turn away. Something makes you want voice it and you make up an entire world where everything is fine and nobody knows the true pain you’re going through. But you don’t ever want to talk about it…

  21. Sedona says:

    I could listen to this 100 times a day! This rendition is so powerful, so beautiful, so haunting, so prophetic! I’d even go so far as saying it’s anointed. Even though it is sometimes disconcerting and humbling to realize that there is a bigger purpose and you (Disturbed) are the vessels to carry the message to a new generation as well as connecting to an older generation. Kind of the point of the video is to unite people through music. So many people including myself, have found this rendition to be so incredibly powerful, soaringly emotional, heart rending, tear inducing, gutting, inspiring, mind blowing and eventually (after many listens) become thoughtful of how we need to alter our current course in life to make real connection and communication. I love all the commentors views and interpretations. But am I the only person to draw the correlation to the prophetic nature of this song written in 1965 and today’s “Neon Gods we’ve made” — as our electronic devices, cell phones, computer screens, that take up all our time and attention? They are number one in our lives — so how far away are we from bowing to them (worshipping)? One definition of worship is being completely devoted to someone/something. I’d say we’re devoted entirely to the neon gods we’ve made. People talking without speaking — texts, posts, emails etc … all silent communication, all taking away from real human verbal communication via phone call or in person conversation, or physical communication hug, hand hold, physical helping someone else “take my arm that I might lead you” just my take. I’m as guilty of relying on technological communication as the next person. Oh yeah, in case i wasn’t clear, I think David has the most amazing vocal delivery combined with the most amazing instrumentals and soaring arrangement of any song I’ve ever heard. It really is a spiritual experience to listen to this song and let it reach every part of you. Standing O.

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