Silence is a mysterious phenomenon, but it’s also essential for us to live functional lives. There’s something eerie about it, but everyone should explore this void of noise once in a while.
Today, we’ll explore a variety of songs that deal with different types of silence. Some speak to the silence that comes from lovers, while others touch on the silence that can awaken the thoughtful side of you. Some songs may inspire deep reflection, while others may evoke feelings of loss and nostalgia.
While silence can be golden, it can also bring forth sad emotions, and may not be suitable for those struggling with tough emotions. But if you’re interested in exploring the many facets of silence through music, keep reading!
Contents
- 1. “The Sounds Of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
- 2. “When I Go Deaf” by Low
- 3. “Hush” by Deep Purple
- 4. “Silence Kit” by Pavement
- 5. “Voices Carry” by Til Tuesday
- 6. “Silence” by PJ Harvey
- 7. “A Quiet Place” by Garnet Mimms
- 8. “Enjoy The Silence” by Depeche Mode
- 9. “Quiet Storm” by Mobb Deep
- 10. “Silent Shout” by The Knife
- 11. “The Quiet One” by The Who
- 12. “No Surprises” by Radiohead
- 13. “Silence” by Matisyahu
- 14. “Silence Is The Enemy” by Papa Roach
- 15. “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s
- 16. “Quiet Heart” by The Go-Betweens
- 17. “Your Silent Face” by New Order
- 18. “Silence” by Portishead
- 19. “Lazy Calm” by Cocteau Twins
- 20. “Mary Of Silence” by Mazzy Star
- Conclusion
- Related Posts:
1. “The Sounds Of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
“The Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel is definitely a song for introverts. This song is about the deeper philosophical mind of someone who has grown tired of silence. This is not regular silence but rather a representation of deeper discussions.
People often ponder about things that don’t matter and the singers think that is not the way to live. No one can understand him which is why he is all alone and he uses the lyrics in this song to wonder if someone can show him the way one day.
2. “When I Go Deaf” by Low
“When I Go Deaf” by Low is about a lover who is so tired of arguments that he wishes he were deaf in order to end it all. Relationships benefit from silence as much as they need conversation. This person still loves their significant other but is having a hard time connecting with them because of all the arguments.
This song is quite relatable since people who are in serious relationships can often get into fights. It is really a matter of how one can cope with them. Even the singer admits that he still loves her despite the conflict in their life.
3. “Hush” by Deep Purple
“Hush ” by Deep Purple is about a guy doing many things to impress the woman of his dreams but unfortunately she rejects all his attempts. The “hush” in the song is when the singer tries to tell the girl to just stop talking and let him do his thing.
People get rejected in potential relationships all the time but the protagonist in this song is unable to come to terms with this fact and tries to control the conversation. It doesn’t seem to be an effective strategy, however.
4. “Silence Kit” by Pavement
“Silence Kit” by Pavement is about someone trying to get the silent kid to open up about their life. The kid seems to be new to the city and the vocalist urges him to explore and open up about life despite his troubled background.
If you have ever met someone who grew up in the countryside, they are usually in shock when they go to the cities. This kid is probably not silent but just too shy to open up to other people.
An interesting fact about the song is that many believe it was originally called Silence Kid but there was a misprint by the label and Silence Kit stuck as the track name.
5. “Voices Carry” by Til Tuesday
“Voices Carry” by Til Tuesday is about a girl who is falling for a guy she has just met. The guy is telling her to tone it down since he wants to take things slow.
As the lyrics go on, you notice the song has dark undertones and may even hint at an abusive relationship. The hush in the song is the guy telling her not to talk too much but as the song progresses, it changes to shut up.
The song has a very haunting and captivating vibe and may remind you of your past relationships that went sour.
6. “Silence” by PJ Harvey
“Silence” by PJ Harvey is about someone trying to find their real self. They have been distracted by the activities in this world for a long time but as time goes on, they have realized their mistake. The lyrics of the song shed light on this and how the protagonist decides to rectify the situation and go on a journey of self-discovery.
7. “A Quiet Place” by Garnet Mimms
“A Quiet Place” by Garnet Mimms is a funny yet painful song as it talks about someone who is just trying to get a night of good sleep only to be interrupted. He goes everywhere in order to sleep uninterrupted but the noise seems to follow him everywhere.
8. “Enjoy The Silence” by Depeche Mode
“Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode is about someone trying to talk to a younger version of themselves and telling them to not rely on words too much. The message is to enjoy the silence instead of running away from it. Some lyrics point to the fact that words are often used to hurt the people we love whereas silence can be refreshing.
9. “Quiet Storm” by Mobb Deep
“Quiet Storm” by Mobb Deep is about a person who is quiet by nature but is actually has immeasurable potential and everyone will learn this fact, as the singer believes. Just because someone is silent doesn’t mean that they can’t take the world by storm. The singer believes such people can show their worth when it’s needed.
10. “Silent Shout” by The Knife
“Silent Shout” by The Knife is about someone on their deathbed who is regretting some of their choices. They want to shout silently for the others who have already passed on.
Everyone makes mistakes, and while some can be overlooked, others can impact our lives. Everyone will regret something on their deathbed and this song about self-reflection will be a meaningful listen.
11. “The Quiet One” by The Who
“The Quiet One” by The Who is another song for introverts and the singer claims these individuals are deeper than anyone can imagine. The quiet one might be weak for words but is strong for thoughts. They also have a degree of mystery that people generally find intimidating as well as intriguing.
12. “No Surprises” by Radiohead
“No Surprises” by Radiohead is about someone who is tired of our capitalist society and just wants to sleep without the presence of an “alarm clock”. The singer decides to be quiet about this, stating there isn’t anything he can do to change things dramatically.
13. “Silence” by Matisyahu
“Silence” by Matisyahu is about someone who is dreaming of a perfect world only to be disappointed in reality. Nothing can be perfect after all. He is still hoping for a “true leader” to show up in order to break the silence and bring change to this world.
14. “Silence Is The Enemy” by Papa Roach
“Silence Is The Enemy” by Papa Roach is somewhat a political song that urges people to speak up when they notice injustice. Silence is the enemy if we want a fair society. People should voice out their opinions as much as possible and use the power of speech to mend what is broken in the world.
15. “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s
“Our Lips are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s is about a couple who had been dealing with gossip for a while and they choose to use silence as their defense. People seem to be jealous of what they have at the moment and instead of responding to baseless allegations, the singer urges his partner to practice silence and refrain from getting dragged into arguments with senseless people.
16. “Quiet Heart” by The Go-Betweens
“Quiet Heart” by The Go-Betweens is about a guy who really loves a girl and wants to keep her for a lifetime but they have had an argument which caused a rift. Go-Betweens take the role of storytellers in this particular song.
The lyrics are so detailed and thoughtful that you can imagine the scene without being in the room. The lover knows his girl has a calm and quiet heart even if feels very noisy and he knows she has a long way to go.
17. “Your Silent Face” by New Order
“Your Silent Face” by New Order is about someone contemplating the matters of life and death. Everyone will end up having a silent face at some point.
It is one of those rare New Order songs with swear words and astonished fans all over: “You’ve caught me at a bad time, now why don’t you piss off?” Despite the morbid theme behind the lyrics, the song has a very light tune and is considered one of the most popular songs by the band.
18. “Silence” by Portishead
“Silence” by Portishead is about someone mourning the loss of something that has been lost. The singer is alone in her despair because her partner just plays mind games instead of supporting her in this tough moment.
This song will resonate with everyone who lost someone and found themselves alone. The singer wonders why there is silence when there are better ways to confront your emotions.
19. “Lazy Calm” by Cocteau Twins
“Lazy Calm” by Cocteau Twins is about someone who is saying goodbye to a loved one who passed away. Death is a reality but some goodbyes are harder than others. The singer understands that everyone has to leave this world someday but is wondering why it was so early in this case.
20. “Mary Of Silence” by Mazzy Star
“Mary of Silence” by Mazzy Star is about a man remembering the life he lived with his special someone who has now passed away. The protagonist tries his best to console himself and thinks about all the things he could’ve done differently. He hopes and believes there will be a second chance to walk Mary to heaven.
Conclusion
There are many songs about silence that intrigue the heart. Some appeal to our senses more than any word could while some of the themes are quite sad. Silence is relatable however because almost everyone has experienced the pain of losing a loved one, be it in a relationship or in life. The songs on this list cover different genres and themes and you are bound to find tracks that will strike a chord!
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