MyMemeCards editorial team
Watch the ref
Nobody has added this meme's ref yet. Got the original video or post?
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70, number 20845 of the collection, and the 37th best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” meme mean?
This meme expresses deep disappointment or discomfort in a situation going wrong. It turns failure into dark comedy: the solemn music contrasts with the absurdity of the moment. It is used to highlight regret, error, or ironic resignation, often when one feels overwhelmed by events.
Where does the “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” meme come from?
The source text states that the meme takes the first verse of The Sound of Silence, a song by Simon & Garfunkel from 1964. Its origin traces back to Arrested Development, where the song accompanies the character Gob's moments of regret and failure; the exact air date of the scene is not specified in the consulted sources. The format then spread on YouTube: on July 8, 2014, Joe Bell published a video linking the song to a desperate Brazilian fan during the World Cup; on July 30, convulsion0inc applied it to a David Guetta video at Tomorrowland. In 2015, Reddit contributed to its popularity, notably with the r/soundofsilence community, created in February; its exact creation date is unknown. The version announced in 2016 is mainly "Sad Affleck". On March 24, 2016, Yahoo! News published an interview with Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, following negative reviews. YouTuber Sabconth edited this clip adding the introduction of The Sound of Silence and press headlines; the video went viral.
- 1964Release of The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel.
- July 8, 2014Joe Bell publishes a YouTube video linking the song to a desperate Brazilian fan during the World Cup.
- July 30, 2014convulsion0inc applies the song to a David Guetta video at Tomorrowland.
- February 2015Creation of the r/soundofsilence community on Reddit.
- March 24, 2016Yahoo! News publishes an interview with Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
How to use the “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” meme
- Add the music during a sports defeat to highlight humiliation.
- Comment a professional failure ironically using the cult phrase.
- Illustrate a personal regret moment through cinematic reference.
Also searched as
- Sad Affleck
- The Sound of Silence meme
- Simon & Garfunkel despair
- hello darkness my old friend meaning
- hello darkness my old friend origin
- sad affleck meme ben affleck
- the sound of silence meme youtube
- r/soundofsilence reddit
- arrested development gob song
The “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 20845 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Collection | Memes World series 70 |
| Fame | 80/100 · #37 of 243 |
| Recycle value | 20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Hello Darkness, My Old Friend comes out of the Memes World series 70 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend”
More cards of the Memes World series 70
Frequently asked questions
What does hello darkness my old friend mean?
This meme expresses disappointment or failure presented sarcastically. It uses the melancholy of the song to highlight regret or an overwhelming situation with irony.
Where did the hello darkness my old friend meme come from?
It comes from the first verse of The Sound of Silence (1964). Popularized via Arrested Development, then viralized on YouTube in 2014 and Reddit in 2015, with a peak in 2016 via the Sad Affleck meme.
Who is gob in arrested development?
Gob is a character in the series Arrested Development. Sources indicate the song accompanies his moments of regret and failure, but provide no further details about the character himself.
What is the sad affleck meme?
Sad Affleck is a variant of the meme centered on Ben Affleck. It uses his March 2016 interview post-Batman v Superman, set to The Sound of Silence music to illustrate critical disappointment.
How do I get the Hello Darkness, My Old Friend meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Hello Darkness, My Old Friend card?
It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend Meme: Origin & Meaning · hello darkness, my old friend | Memes - Dictionary.com · Hello Darkness My Old Friend - A look at the sound of silence memes · checked on October 11, 2026.
Read next
Want Hello Darkness, My Old Friend in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.