A Timeless Song

Just driving home this morning from dropping my daughter off at school, listening to my favorite radio station, 70s on XM. It was honestly the first time I ever listened, not just sang along, but truly “heard” the lyrics of The Logical Song by Supertramp. It’s not like it was my first time hearing the song. I always envied my girlfriend in high school, as she had an amazing Marantz stereo system in her Colorado bedroom and was always spinning the newest releases. We would hang out in her room after school listening to Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Supertramp and the like.

But today, over 30 years later, this Supertramp song touched me in a new way. I see why the song resonated with me then, but understand more why it resonates with me now. I have spent a great deal of my life wondering this same question “Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned”. And now, as I work and play with the children, I see the important timeless message of allowing these children to continue to foster that “beautiful, magical” aspect of their childhood so they can continue through life “singing so happily, joyfully, playfully.”

We owe it to them to keep from squashing their wonder-filled Spirit that inspires and guides them. They are being asked to grow up way too fast. Us grown-ups make life “so sensible, logical, responsible, practical” and we often look down upon others who don’t behave in this proper grown-up fashion.

Seek balance in your own life, so your children aren’t afraid to grow up and be a part of the world we have created for them. We so desperately seek to recover these qualities that come so naturally to them. Listen… and hear what your child is teaching you. They may be trying to remind you who you are! – TF

Supertramp – “The Logical Song” Lyrics
Songwriters: DAVIES, RICHARD / HODGSON, ROGER

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully, watching me
But then they sent 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 I am, who I am, who I am

But I’m thinking so logical
Did you call, one two three four
It’s getting unbelievable