7 O'Clock News/Silent Night
7 O'Clock News/Silent Night is a song written by Paul Simon (although "Silent Night" was written by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr in the early nineteenth century). It appears as the twelfth (and final, excluding the bonus demos) track on the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkel. The song consists of a performance of the famous Christmas carol Silent Night, while the events of 3 August 1966 are reported in an edition of the "7 O'Clock News". The voice of the newscaster is that of Charlie O'Donnell, then a radio disk jockey.
Events reported in the news
The famous events mentioned in the news are (in order, as they are mentioned):
- A fight in the House of Representatives over a non-racially-discriminatory housing section in "the civil rights bill". It is mentioned that President Johnson had originally proposed a full ban on discrimination for any type of housing, but this is quickly dismissed as "having no chance". This is concluded with a statement that "a compromise was painfully worked out in the House Judiciary Committee."
- The death of comedian Lenny Bruce from an overdose of narcotics. It is incorrectly stated that Bruce died at the age of 42 (he actually died when he was 40).
- Dr. Martin Luther King announcing that plans for a march into Cicero (a suburb of Chicago) for open housing are not to be canceled. Cook County Sheriff Richard Ogilvie is mentioned as having asked King to cancel the march. The police in Cicero announce plans to ask the National Guard to be called if the march is held.
- The stabbings and stranglings of eight (nine, according to the newscast) student nurses by Richard Speck.
- Federal regulations on anti-Vietnam war protests. Demonstrators are reported as having been forcibly evicted when they began chanting anti-war slogans. "Former Vice-President Richard Nixon" is reported as announcing that unless there is an increase in the war effort, the United States will be facing five more years of war. He is also reported as saying that opposition to the war is the "single greatest weapon working against the United States".
Analysis and themes
 | This section possibly contains original research. (March 2009) |
The song can be interpreted in several ways. All of the events reported are of a definitively negative nature, either containing deaths and murders or curbs on liberties. As such, the song can be seen as a cynical comment on a joyous outlook on life (as represented by Silent Night). More pragmatically, this interpretation is a protest against what can be seen as joyous, pointless patriotism. It can also be seen as an uncomfortable look at how turbulent our world is, forcing us to reflect.
Alternatively, Silent Night can be seen as a representation of timeless, universal values which stand regardless of tragic occurrences (as represented by the "7 O'Clock News").