Does anyone know what the song The Sound of Silence is about?

Answer 1

it is talking about the loss of communication among people and how everyone is becoming more and more materialized

Answer 2

The Sound of Silence" is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel to popularity. It was written by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Simon conceived of the song as a way of capturing the emotional trauma felt by many Americans left by the sudden death of a vigorous and visionary leader. It was originally recorded as an acoustic piece for their first album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. but was later electronically overdubbed and released as a single. The single slowly climbed the charts until it reached number one on New Year's Day 1966. The song was included in the 1966 album Sounds of Silence.

from Wikapedia

Answer 3

I found something over the internet... and I agree. here it is:

The song uses the imagery of light and darkness to show how people's ignorance and apathy destroys their ability to communicate even on simple levels.
Its theme is man's inability to communicate with man. The author sees the extent of communication as it is on only its most superficial and "commercial" level (of which the "neon sign" is representative). There is no serious understanding because there is no serious communication - "people talking without speaking - hearing without listening". No one dares take the risk of reaching out ("take my arms that I might reach you") to disturb the sound of silence. The poet's (character in the song) attempts are equally futile (" . . . but my words like silent raindrops fell within the wells of silence"). The ending is an enigma. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence.

the link is the following:
http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=7354