The Logical Song
Supertramp Lyrics


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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
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
Please tell me who I am

I said, now, watch what you say, they'll be calling you a radical
A liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal
Oh, 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 (oh, won't you tell me)
Please tell me what we've learned?
(Can you hear me?) I know it sounds absurd
(Oh, won't you tell me) please tell me who I am
Who I am, who I am, who I am

Ooh
Hey

'Cause I was feeling so logical
Yeah
D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Digital
Yeah, one, two, three, five
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Ooh, it's getting unbelievable
Yeah




Getting, getting, yeah, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, uh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Supertramp's song "The Logical Song" express the disillusionment of a man who looks back on his childhood with fondness and wonder, but has since been sent away to be taught how to be "sensible, logical, responsible, practical, dependable, clinical, intellectual, and cynical." He longs for a return to that childlike state of wonder and questions what he and society have truly learned in the pursuit of becoming "acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable" in the eyes of others. The chorus reflects his frustration with the limitations of language and the inability to truly grasp the depth of existence, as he begs for someone to tell him who he is and what they've learned.


The song juxtaposes a catchy, upbeat melody with poignant and introspective lyrics, serving as a commentary on societal pressures to conform and the loss of innocence and wonder that comes with maturity. It highlights the struggle to balance practicality and responsibility with maintaining a sense of individuality and curiosity.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful
Life looked beautiful and magical in my younger days.


A miracle, oh, it was beautiful, magical
Life was a miraculous experience in my younger days.


And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily
I found joy watching the singing birds.


Oh, joyfully, oh, playfully watching me
The birds brought me joy and laughter as they played.


But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible
Later, I was sent away to be taught how to be practical and responsible.


Logical, oh, responsible, practical
I was taught to be logical, practical and responsible.


Then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable
Then they showed me how being dependable could help me survive in the grown-up world.


Oh, clinical, oh, intellectual, cynical
However, this came at a cost of losing my creativity and becoming cynical.


There are times when all the world's asleep
Sometimes deep thoughts overwhelm us when everyone is asleep.


The questions run too deep
The questions are too profound to gain answers.


For such a simple man
For someone who is as simple as me.


Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?
Can you please enlighten me with the things we've learned?


I know it sounds absurd
I know this request may sound a bit odd.


Please tell me who I am
Can you tell me, who am I?


I said, now, watch what you say, they'll be calling you a radical
I caution you to be careful with your opinions, or you might be labeled a radical.


A liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal
People may misunderstand you to be a criminal if you have liberal and fanatical opinions.


Oh, won't you sign up your name? We'd like to feel you're acceptable
Can you please sign your name? We need to verify if you're acceptable.


Respectable, oh, presentable, a vegetable
We only care that you are respectable, presentable, and obedient like a vegetable.


Oh, take, take, take it, yeah
Just take whatever is given to you without questioning. Die, yea!


But at night, when all the world's asleep
However, when everyone is asleep at night.


The questions run so deep
The questions are much more profound.


For such a simple man
For someone who is as simple as me


Won't you please (oh, won't you tell me)
Please, can you tell me


Please tell me what we've learned?
What have we really learned?


(Can you hear me?)
Are you listening to me?


I know it sounds absurd
I realize this sounds strange.


(Oh, won't you tell me) please tell me who I am
Please tell me who I really am.


Ooh


Hey


'Cause I was feeling so logical
Because I used to think that being logical was very important.


Yeah


D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Digital
It is all about living a digital life.


Yeah, one, two, three, five
Living a digital life means following a repetitive routine every day.


Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah


Ooh, it's getting unbelievable
But now, the pursuit of logic doesn't make sense anymore.


Yeah


Getting, getting, yeah, yeah


Uh, uh, uh, uh




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Richard Davies, Roger Hodgson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@rodrigofigueiredo8341

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
Please tell me who I am

I said now what would you say
Now we're calling you a radical
A liberal, oh fanatical, criminal

Oh won't you sign up your name
We'd like to feel you're acceptable
Respectable, oh presentable, a vegetable!

Take, take, take it

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
Please tell me what we've learned
Can you hear me
I know it sounds absurd
Why won't you help me
But please tell me who I am
Who I am, who I am, who I am

'Cause I was feeling so logical
Digital
One two three four
Liberal



@banjoindrajit

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, playfully watching me
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible, practical
And 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
Please tell me who I am
I said, watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical
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 it 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 tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am, who I am
'Cause I was feeling so logical
D-d-digital
One, two, three, five
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It's getting unbelievable



All comments from YouTube:

@paulhill7818

Such a Underrated Song.. Who's Enjoying this Masterpiece in 2024??😊

@MichelBiesot

Underrated??? That's total bullshit! It was on all hitparades all over the world!!! Number one in a lot of countries! 😅

@josecarlosgoncalves8426

Eu

@penguinproduction697

Supertramp really explained life in four minutes

@user-vi7pq4rq7u

yes they sent me away to be logical and all I found was foolishness

@akshayshinde9466

Anybody in 2023/👉🏻2024💫

@XXB4XX

Yep.. it's been remixed again, now by David Guetta

@user-ie3ut1el3u

We never left

@carlierflorian2879

David Guetta

@shonacourt9750

Oh yes, will always listen to Supertramp❤

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