It was 1976. Beirut was under siege. Sirens wailed, buildings fell, and silence became the sound of fear. But in one forgotten corner of the city, deep inside a cramped bomb shelter, a quiet rebellion took shape—not with weapons, but with a song.
A Voice From Across the World
Simon & Garfunkel’s anthem found its way to a war zone
A group of university students had salvaged a small battery-powered radio. They were hiding in the basement of a school, surrounded by rubble and uncertainty. And one night, after a long silence, someone turned the knob and the static cleared.
“Hello darkness, my old friend…”
It was The Sound of Silence. No one spoke. No one dared cry. But in that moment, the words of Paul Simon transcended culture, language, and faith. For a few minutes, it felt like the world remembered them. The song became a whisper of dignity in a place stripped of it.
Ziad Rahbani Was There Too
Though he never mentioned it, some say he heard that broadcast
Ziad Rahbani—composer, playwright, and symbol of cultural resistance—was in Beirut that same year. He performed underground plays mocking politics, using satire as survival. Though there is no confirmation, a close friend once said:
“Ziad heard ‘The Sound of Silence’ from a radio one night. He didn’t say much. But he stayed silent longer than usual.”
Now, One Voice Has Gone Silent
Ziad Rahbani passed away on July 26, 2025
His death marks the end of an era. But that night in 1976, when Western folk met Middle Eastern defiance, something timeless was born: a reminder that music can speak when the world refuses to listen.
Suggested Song: “The Sound of Silence” – Simon & Garfunkel
Because sometimes, the quietest songs carry the loudest truths.