Everybody in my hotel room be dancing...  love it...


 

Angst is universal as far as age is concerned. At least that is what I have observed. A burden is a burden is a burden to bear. That doesn't stop an old fhart from laughing in your pimply face or a youngster sneering at your old crickety legs or leathery countenance though. I first heard this when my mean sister bought it way way back when it was fresh and new. She isn't mean to me anymore though we are both getting old and crickety now, so maybe it was my angst that made her seem so.

I bought the album "Sounds of Silence" second hand from my cousin when he came to visit us in Chicago (probably to escape his folks in Ohio for a while).  This song in particular sure appealed to my teen-aged angst or (since teens probably can't actually feel angst??!) at least my sullen attitude toward life at 13-14.  I'm over it now.

I bought the album "Sounds of Silence" second hand from my cousin when he came to visit us in Chicago (probably to escape his folks in Ohio for a while).  This song in particular sure appealed to my teen-aged angst or (since teens probably can't actually feel angst??!) at least my sullen attitude toward life at 13-14.  I'm over it now.

WONDERFUL duo - great song!
LEAVE ALONE "Sounds of Silence" was their "Opus Magnum" (or vice versa, if you prefere)
"8"

"If I never Loved I never would have cried" - so true!

My anthem as an angst-riddled kid.  
I feel much better these days.
How YOU doin'?

 bachbeet wrote:
It seems as if he's writing about a temporary response to an emotionally painful incident.  I don't find it to be as much "cynical" as it is self-preservational.

Back in about 1967 or 1968, I was living in Carson City, Nevada. My parents had a stereo/TV sales and repair business.  People would drop off record players, sometimes with the records still in them. I got "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones (my FIRST listen) and "I Am A Rock."  I kept the records, and no one ever mentioned the loss when they claimed their record-players.  I was too young to know then that what came in was what should go out.  (Silly me.)

That was also the first time I'd ever heard Simon and Garfunkel. It took some time, but I finally understood "deep."  I listened to this 45 countless times, and I think it was part of what led me to appreciate so many types of music.

I only wish Mom and Dad were still alive - I'd love to ask them about that time in our lives...

What is good about the song is that the writer (Simon) is not really in favor of the stance taken.  He's aware of the cynical bitter stance taken by the protagonist.  He knows it's not really something to be proud of to be like this:

I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

This is not a really healthy way to be.

Your post really bothers me ... you talk about your gym teacher / principal as if this behavior were somehow ok. I suppose it can be argued that "the young people of today" are overly privileged with their cell phones and iPads and whatnot. However, no one can tell me that it's ever okay for an authority figure to punch a student in the stomach or smash them into the wall.

You and I are about the same age. I remember sadistic teachers, some by name, and some of their behavior still has an effect on me. There's a good reason this kind of shit isn't tolerated any more.

This is one of a handful of songs that changed my life during the summer of '65 when I was a 13 year old boy transitioning to the world of wonder and discovery that lies between innocence and reality.

Our 8th grade gym teacher would punch kids in the stomach or smash them against the wall until they cried (really). He later became the school principal!
But try to tell that to the young people of today! . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDaSvRO9xA

On the plus side, our English teacher played ELP's "Lucky Man" for us as an example of "pop poetry". Hey, it beat getting punched in the stomach!  ; )

Our 8th grade gym teacher would punch kids in the stomach or smash them against the wall until they cried (really). He later became the school principal!
But try to tell that to the young people of today! . . .

Our 8th grade gym teacher would punch kids in the stomach or smash them against the wall until they cried (really). He later became the school principal!
But try to tell that to the young people of today! . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDaSvRO9xA

On the plus side, our English teacher played ELP's "Lucky Man" for us as an example of "pop poetry". Hey, it beat getting punched in the stomach!  ; )

I love this song...  it is amazing how fast time goes by...

Our 6th grade teacher would discuss the first Star Trek shows.He was a graduate biology student at Carleton University (Ottawa).  We also did applied field ecology, grafted windows on to eggs, did abstract surreal art.  Life was good!

I was fortunate enough to have a Social Studies teacher in 8th grade (Mr. Skipper) who changed my life....he would put on LP's during class.  He played this album one day and had us write a paper on what the songs meant!  Life changing I'm tellin' ya!!!  He played Dylan, too!  What a guy.