Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “The Logical Song by Supertramp“. The song lyrics are ideal for English Learners and include many interesting language topics, such as adjectives and adverbs.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
The Logical Song by Supertramp
“The Logical Song” is a hit single by Supertramp, sung by band member Roger Hodgson. This page provides information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
The Logical song by Supertramp
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: The logical song
- Album: Breakfast in America
- Date of release: March 1979
- Genre: Rock
- Length of the song: 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
- Writer: Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson
- Produced by: Supertramp, Peter Henderson
Interesting Information about the Song
The lyrics of the song critique an education system that prioritizes rigid, technical language and jargon over genuine understanding and emotional intelligence.
The song highlights the shortcomings of an approach that values rote learning and mechanical knowledge above personal growth and empathy.
Notably, the lyrics employ consonance, featuring a distinctive repetition of “-ical” and “-able” endings in various adjectives, which adds to the song’s rhythmic and poetic quality. This stylistic choice not only emphasizes the mechanical nature of the education being criticized but also enhances the overall impact and memorability of the message.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
wonderful, beautiful, magical, sensible, logical, responsible, practical, dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical, asleep, simple, absurd, radical, liberal, fanatical, criminal, acceptable, respectable, presentable, deep
happily, joyfully, playfully, too
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- 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
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete the sentences using the words or phrases provided.
- When I was young, life seemed __________.
- (wonderful, difficult, boring)
- They taught me how to be __________, practical, and responsible.
- (logical, carefree, emotional)
- The questions run too deep for such a __________ man.
- (complex, simple, extraordinary)
- I was warned to watch what I say, or they would call me __________.
- (a criminal, a genius, a hero)
- At night, when all the world’s asleep, the __________ run so deep.
- (songs, questions, dreams)
Gap Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Sensible: Able to make good judgments based on reason or experience.
- Cynical: Distrustful of people’s motives; believing that people are motivated by self-interest.
- Radical: Someone who advocates for complete political or social reform.
- Fanatical: Filled with excessive and single-minded zeal.
- Dependable: Capable of being trusted or relied on; reliable.
- Presentable: Neat, tidy, or suitable in appearance.
- Illogical: Not following reasonable or clear thinking; lacking sense.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word from the list:
sensible, cynical, radical, fanatical, dependable, presentable, illogical.
- After years of being __________, she learned to trust people again and see the good in them.
- His __________ views on politics made him a polarizing figure in the community.
- Even when things got tough, she remained __________ and could be counted on to handle the situation.
- Despite his __________ passion for his beliefs, he always listened to others’ opinions.
- She made sure her outfit was __________ before attending the important meeting.
- The argument seemed __________ and didn’t convince anyone of the truth.
- It is important to be __________ when making important decisions that affect others.
Source: Wikipedia