what do the lyrics imply?

[jasonlulu_2000]

In the song of "the sound of silence", we have "people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share."

What do the underlined parts imply? What is the difference of 'talking' and 'speaking'?

Thanks!

Jason

 

[GoesStation]

In the song [STRIKE]of[/STRIKE] "The Sound of Silence", we have "people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share."

What do the underlined parts imply? What is the difference of 'talking' and 'speaking'?

The first is meant to convey the idea that people talk but don't say anything important. "Speaking" isn't really apt, but it works in the rhyme and meter scheme; the next line clearly states the reciprocal idea, so the listener is guided towards the writer's intended meaning.

Writing a song that nobody ever sings is a similarly futile undertaking.

 

[andrewg927]

The second line can be understood as people hear but not actually take in what they hear, thus not listening.