Silence Is Golden

Album

Single

Label

Epic records

Genre

Dance-pop

Composer(s)

Bob Crewe;Bob Gaudio

Entered Chart

Jun 17, 1967

Peak Date

Aug 19, 1967

Released

21 April 1967

Recorded

1967

Catalog #

Epic 5-10184

B-Side

Let Your Hair Hang Down

This was originally recorded in 1964 by the Four Seasons as the B-side of their #1 hit "Rag Doll." The group evolved from Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, and were signed by Decca Records when the label rejected The Beatles. >> Chesney Hawkes is the son of Chip Hawkes, who was a member of The Tremeloes. When Chesney hit #1 UK with "The One And Only," it marked the first time both father and son had got to #1. The phrase "silence is golden" is an encouragement to silence, which comes from a Swiss inscription written in German and best known in the English translation by Thomas Carlyle: "Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden" (speech is silver, silence is golden). The Tremeloes included this song in their stage act to feature guitarist Rick West's falsetto. Chip Hawkes recalled in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "We were on tour with The Hollies and we were getting standing ovations for Silence Is Golden. We recorded it immediately and by the end of the tour, it was in the charts. Tony Hicks of The Hollies said to me, 'It's a good thing you did that as were going to record it.'"

Oh don't it hurt deep inside
To see someone do something to her
Oh don't it pain to see someone cry
How especially if that someone is her

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

Talking is cheap people follow like sheep
Even though there is no where to go
How could she tell he deceived her so well
Pity she'll be the last one to know

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see

How many times will she fall for his lines
Should I tell her or should I be cool
And if I tried I know she'd say I lied
Mind your business don't hurt her you fool

Silence is golden
But my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
But my eyes still see
But my eyes still see