My Life in a Playlist

Day 19: Supertramp - The Logical Song

Does everyone get at least one silly song? Because this one is mine. It's off the Breakfast in America album, which came out in 1978 and still remains on my list. It's so lively and the lyrics are so unusual. They may sound very silly, but in truth, they're pretty deep. Almost like they used ridiculous to cover up meaning... maybe to make you dig? After all, the song is literally about the meaning of life! For some reason, it can almost always bring me out of a funk.

Immediately, Hodgson [Vocals - Keyboards - Guitar] reeled off words that rhymed: intellectual, radical... logical. And in that moment, the whole concept for the song came into focus. "Right away, I knew what I wanted to say. The song was born out of my questions about what really mattered in life. Throughout childhood we're taught how to behave, yet we're very rarely told anything about the deeper purpose of life. We go from the innocence and wonder of childhood to the confusion of adolescence, and that often ends up in disillusionment in adulthood. And many of us spend our lives trying to get back to that innocence." ~ Paul Elliot - Classic Rock Magazine

Another tidbit about that piece. It was the one that led me to believe albums are better than singles. I was listening to music and doing other things at a friends house. He was older, and I held his opinions in high regard. I saw he had this album, a recent purchase, and asked him to play this song.

"No, if I put it on, I'll play all of it." He said. "You know that."
"Why is that, anyway?"
"If you want to listen to songs, turn on the radio." He replied. "If you want to hear music, get an album."
"I don't get it."
"Well, this..." He held up the record. "This is how the artists put it together for you. Respect that."

It made sense then, and does to this day. So, for the last forty years I've listened to music the way it was delivered by the artist. Because of this song? Maybe not. I might have gotten that pearl of wisdom at some other time. I think it was an accidental but excellent choice!