Thread by @IntuitMachine

There are so many classic songs that grab you because of the lyrics, but can be vastly improved by modifying the lyrics. Songs, like all art, involves a beholder's stake. The intrinsic ambiguity of art allows us to mold its meaning to ourselves.

The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel has always grabbed my attention. Paul Simon wrote this song when he was 21, but I doubt he could have predicted the emergent interpretations that listeners found in his song.

The Disturbed version of the song has an appealing interpretation (same lyrics). That captures that feeling of helplessness in a world of apathy.

I was introduced to this song when one of my teachers in HS played it, so that we could analyze its meaning. What was odd was that I took away was the importance of silence. Which I don't think the song was about!

Still, why can't iconic songs have their lyrics change so that to better capture our understanding of this world? Why can't the random thoughts of a 21 year old be changed as he matures? Why aren't songs, living documents?

I'm not gifted musically, but for god sakes, can someone change the lyrics so that they make better sense? It's like we have to endure our entire life listening to music lyrics generated by GPT-3!

This leads to an emerging opportunity, coherent lyrics for old popular songs generated by GPT-3. #ideas

Hello wisdom, my old friend
I've come to seek you again
Because a thought that softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was dreaming
And the idea that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the walls of silence

Cautiously I walked alone
Without the paved paths of stone
I traversed the field of mines
Littered with forks without signs
I felt my way without the light
To a place that was just and right
And reached the wall of silence

And in the darkness 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
Take my arms that I might reach you
Hear my words that I might teach you
But my words, like silent raindrops, fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the false god they made
And the violence was a warning
In the pain that it was forming
And the sign said:
“We hear not words of enemies,
but the silence of our friends.”
And whispered in the sound of silence.

@threadreaderapp unroll