Speakout Advanced p 86. The Logical Song. Extra Listening

On the topic of education, there is a famous song by Supertramp: The Logical Song
The lyrics are a "story of innocence and idealism lost" with Hodgson 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).








THE LOGICAL SONG

SUPERTRAMP

When I was young
it seemed that life was so wonderful
a __________, oh it was beautiful, magical
and all the birds in the trees
well they ________________ so happily
oh joyfully, oh __________ watching me
but then they __________ me away
to teach me how to be ____________
logical, oh ______________, practical
and they ___________ me a world
where I could be so ____________
oh _____________, oh intellectual, _______________
there are times when all the world ______________
the questions run ___________________
for such a simple man
_____________ you please, please tell me what we ________________
I know it sounds ___________
but please tell me who I am
now watch what you say
or they _______________ you a radical
a liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
oh won´t you ___________ your name
we’d like to feel you’re
acceptable, __________, oh presentable, a vegetable!

At night when all the world ______________
the questions run _______________
for such a simple man
_____________ you please, please tell me what we _____________
I know it sounds __________
but please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am.

When I was young
it _______________ that life was so wonderful.


KEY

THE LOGICAL SONG

SUPERTRAMP

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 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

now watch what you say

or 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!

At night 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, who I am, who I am.

When I was young

it seemed that life was so wonderful.

CLINICAL: cold and calm and without feeling or sympathy:e.g. He watched her suffering with clinical detachment.
CYNICAL: believing that people only do things to help themselves rather than for good or honest reasons: e.g. Do you have to be so cynical about everything?