CAE UNIT 2 EXTRA LISTENINGS: SONGS REFLECTING UPON THE PAST AND CHANGE

THE LOGICAL SONG

SUPERTRAMP

On the topic of changes in your life, 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.

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´d be singing so happily
oh joyfully, oh __________ watching me
but then they sent me away
to teach me how to be ____________
logical, oh responsible, ___________
and they showed me a world
where I could be so ____________
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 ___________
but please tell me who I am
now watch what you say
or they´ll be calling you a __________
a liberal, oh fanatical, criminal
oh won´t you sign up your name
we’d like to feel you’re
acceptable, __________, 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 __________
but please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am.
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.



KEY

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?

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 RIVER

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

On the topic of changes in your life, you can listen to this song.

The River is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, it is a classic outline (description) of someone who has to re-adjust his dreams quickly. He has to face life as it is, which is not precisely a world of his imagination. Throughout the song the river is viewed as a symbol for the dreams of the future. The narrator keeps his hopes alive even as they realistically begin to fail.

That sends me down to the river,
Though I know, the river is dry.
It sends me down to the river, tonight

I come from down in the ___________

Where mister, when you’re young

They bring you ___________ to do like your daddy done

Me and Mary we met in high school

When she was just seventeen

We’d drive out of thE ___________ down to where the fields were green

We’d go down to the river

And into the river we’d __________

Oh oh down to the river we’d ride



Then I got Mary __________

And, man, that was all she wrote

And for my 19th birthday I got a ___________ card and a wedding coat

We went down to the courthouse

When the judge put it all to rest

No wedding day smiles, no walk down the __________

No flowers, no wedding dress

That night we went down to the river

And into the river we’d ___________

Oh, oh down to the river we’d ride



I got a job working ___________ for the Johnstown Company

But lately there ain’t been no work on ___________ of the economy

Now all them things that seemed so important

Well, mister they just __________ right into the air

I just act like I don’t remember

Mary acts like she don’t care

But I remember riding in my brother’s car

Her body __________ and wet down at the reservoir

At night on them banks I’d lie awake

And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take

Now those memories come back to haunt me

They haunt me like a __________

Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true

Or is it something worse

That sends me

Down to the river

Though I know the river is ___________

sends me down to the river tonight

Down to the river

My baby and I

Oh down to the river we ride


KEY

THE RIVER

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

I come from down in the valley

Where mister, when you’re young

They bring you up to do like your daddy done

Me and Mary we met in high school

When she was just seventeen

We’d drive out of the valley down to where the fields were green

We’d go down to the river

And into the river we’d dive

Oh, oh down to the river we’d ride



Then I got Mary pregnant

And, man, that was all she wrote

And for my 19th birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat

We went down to the courthouse

when the judge put it all to rest

No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle

No flowers, no wedding dress

That night we went down to the river

And into the river we’d dive

Oh down to the river we’d ride



I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company

But lately there ain’t been no work on account of the economy

Now all them things that seemed so important

Well, mister they just vanish right into the air

I just act like I don’t remember

Mary acts like she don’t care

But I remember riding in my brother’s car

Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir

At night on them banks I’d lie awake

And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take

Now those memories come back to haunt me

They haunt me like a curse

Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true

Or is it something worse

That sends me

Down to the river

Though I know the river is dry

sends me down to the river tonight

Down to the river

My baby and I

Oh down to the river we ride.


I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THEM! :)