The Logical Song

I’ve been enjoying Supertramp’s Logical Song since the mid-90’s but it’s only recently, with the perspective of a parent thinking about education paradigms for kids, that the song’s message hits home. If your musical journey has somehow missed Supertramp’s Breakfast in America album, I strongly recommend it – never too late I say. I’ve reproduced the lyrics for my lazy friends (courtesyLyricsFreak.com):

When I was young, it seemed like life was so wonderful, it was beautiful, magical

And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully, watching me

And then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical

And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical

There are times when all the world’s asleep

The questions run too deep for such a simple man

Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned

I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am

I said now, watch what you say, now we’re calling you a radical, a liberal, fanatical, criminal

Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable

But at night, when all the world’s asleep

The questions run so deep for such a simple man

Won’t you please (Won’t you tell me), (You can tell me what) please tell me what we’ve learned (Can you hear me?)

I know it sounds absurd, (Won’t you help me) please tell me who I am, who am I, who am I, who am I

But I’m thinking so logical

Did you call, one two three four

It’s getting unbelievable

The Wikipedia article on The Logical Song had the following commentary: The lyrics are a “story of innocence and idealism lost with Hodgson (band member and song writer) condemning an education system not focused on knowledge and sensitivity. The song tells the story of a man who:

• is taken away from the unspoilt immediacy of childhood (When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical),
• undergoes education (but then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical),
• sees a future prepared for him lacking any spontaneity of reaction (And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical),
• feels constricted in his freedom of speech (Now watch what you say or they’ll be calling you a radical, a liberal, fanatical, criminal),
• is put under pressure to conform (Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable)
• and ends up confused, without a coherent self-image (please tell me who I am).