Oldies Goldies: Supertramp's "The Logical Song"

"The Logical Song" is a 1979 song performed by the English rock group Supertramp. The song was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Breakfast in America (1979), in March 1979 by A&M Records. "The Logical Song" is Supertramp's biggest chart hit in both the United States and their native United Kingdom. "The Logical Song" rose to No. 7 in the UK and No. 6 in the US Billboard chart.

A perfect example of combination of great lyrics, beat, and instrumentation in a 1979 hit that is constantly ranked in the “top 100 best rock songs”. The song, not unlike others in that period, is a scathing criticism of British school and education at the time: the lyrics have been said to be a condemnation of an education system focused on categorical jargon as opposed to knowledge and sensitivity.

"The Logical Song" was written primarily by Roger Hodgson, the lyrics based on his experience of being sent away to boarding school for ten years. It was a very personal song for Hodgson; he had worked on the song during soundchecks, and completed the lyrics and arrangement six months before proposing it to the band for the album. In 1980, Hodgson was honored with the Ivor Novello Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters for "The Logical Song" being named the best song both musically and lyrically. "The Logical Song" also has the distinction of being one of the most quoted lyrics in schools.

Hodgson has said of the song’s meaning: "'The Logical Song' was born from my questions about what really matters in life. Throughout childhood we are taught all these ways to be and yet we are rarely told anything about our true self. We are taught how to function outwardly, but not guided to who we are inwardly. We go from the innocence and wonder of childhood to the confusion of adolescence that often ends in the cynicism and disillusionment of adulthood. In 'The Logical Song,' the burning question that came down to its rawest place was 'please tell me who I am,' and that's basically what the song is about. I think this eternal question continues to hit such a deep chord in people around the world and why it stays so meaningful."

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful

A miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical

And all the birds in the trees, well, they'd be singing so happily

Oh, joyfully, oh, playfully watching me

But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible

Logical, oh, responsible, practical

And then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable

Oh, clinical, oh, 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 or they'll be calling you a radical

A liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal

Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're acceptable

Respectable, oh, presentable, a vegetable

Oh, take, take, take it, yeah

But at night, when all the world's asleep

The questions run so 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

Who I am

Who I am

Who I am

Who I am

'Cause I was feeling so logical

D-d-d-d-d-d-digital

Yeah, one, two, three, five

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Ooh, it's getting unbelievable

Yeah

B-b-bloody marvelous

No copyright infringement intended. For educational, non commercial purposes only.