Peak
11
Weeks
14
Score
1,978
Chart Year
1967
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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
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 17, 1967 | 91 | 35 |
| 2 | Jun 24, 1967 | 76 | 50 |
| 3 | Jul 1, 1967 | 58 | 68 |
| 4 | Jul 8, 1967 | 47 | 79 |
| 5 | Jul 15, 1967 | 32 | 94 |
| 6 | Jul 22, 1967 | 26 | 100 |
| 7 | Jul 29, 1967 | 17 | 109 |
| 8 | Aug 5, 1967 | 13 | 113 |
| 9 | Aug 12, 1967 | 12 | 114 |
| 10 | Aug 19, 1967 | 11 | 115 |
| 11 | Aug 26, 1967 | 16 | 110 |
| 12 | Sep 2, 1967 | 21 | 105 |
| 13 | Sep 9, 1967 | 23 | 103 |
| 14 | Sep 16, 1967 | 33 | 93 |