An end to silence by Gary Rose

https://play.google.com/music/preview/Txkxnbyzin3zzyp7565mphyo66y?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics

Lyrics

Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains

Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone

'Neath the halo of a street lamp

I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light

That split the night

And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs that voices never share

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence

Fools, said I, you do not know

Silence like a cancer grows

Hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you

But my words, like silent raindrops fell

And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

And the sign said, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls

And whispered in the sounds of silence (emphasis added [bold])

Written by Paul Simon • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

I remember when "The sound of silence" first came out; loved it then and enjoy it to this very day!  However, its meaning to me has changed over the years...

During the past decade, there has been an effort to exterminate Christianity. Discrimination is rampant in the media, educational institutions and in the court system. Christians are told to be silent and listen to the lies of those who love the false god, Allah. 

In spite of these things, Christians endure. Millions upon millions of people acknowledge Jesus as Lord (and not in its sense of Sir or Mr. either). Jesus is LORD; the king of kings and someday all will acknowledge that fact.

Read on...

Luke, Chapter 19 (WEB)

 ²⁹ When he came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,  ³⁰ saying, “Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man had ever sat upon. Untie it and bring it.   ³¹  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’” 

  ³² Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.  ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”  ³⁴ They said, “The Lord needs it.”  ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and sat Jesus on them.  ³⁶ As he went, they spread their cloaks on the road.  ³⁷ As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,  ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” 

  ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 

  ⁴⁰ He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.” (emphasis added vss. 38-40)

The king is coming, the king is coming and then we read the emboldened verses above. To the Pharisees, Jesus responds that were there to be silence, the stones would cry out!!! 

Jesus has come to be the LORD of those who will follow HIM. If his followers are silent- then what? Would even stones cry out; perhaps?

History has shown that Jesus' followers have not been silenced and hopefully history will continue to repeat itsself.

And then there is this passage from the book of Acts...

Acts, Chapter 5 (WEB)

 ²⁴ Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.  ²⁵ One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”  ²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them. 

  ²⁷ When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,  ²⁸ saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” 

  ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.  ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.  ³¹ God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. ³² We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (emphasis added, vss. 29-32)

Let there be an end to silence!