Silence

Hello darkness, my old friend 

I've come to talk to you again. 

Just seeing the words makes you think of the melody. The harmony. The chords.

But what version do you hear in your head?  

Simon and Garfunkel or Disturbed? 

Each version has a life of its own. 

Each version evokes its own mental lightning bolt. 

The Simon and Garfunkel version brings more nostalgia.  It makes you think of the past in a melancholy way.  You are remembering. The images of your memories are blurry but you try to hold onto them forever.  There is a longing flame that won't die. 

The Disturbed version brings more pain.  It makes you think of the past in a regretful way.  You want to forget. The images of your memories are crystal clear but you want to forever let them go.  There is a dying flame that burns. 

One song.  Two interpretations. That's the quintessence of music.  One hears it with the heart.  The other with the head.  One smiles.  The other cries. 

On a music sheet, they are just words and symbols.  When performed from one's point of view, they come to life.  And that life point of view will always be from the vision of the performer and the ear of the listener.  

And whispered in the sounds of silence

Heard differently.