Supertramp in Concert, Paris, 1979

When was the last time you heard from you? The first time I heard “The Logical Song” (1979) on the radio, I was “shocked.” I could not believe how profoundly soul-searching, introspective, some of the lyrics were. For example, Roger Hodgson wrote,

“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: Please tell me who I am.”

The refrain of the songs stresses its theme, adding,

“Please tell me who I am, who I am, who I am, who I am.”

Sooner or later, one’s humanity “wells up from within,” especially when one is alone, when one’s attention is not directed away from oneself by all kinds of diversions, such as life’s daily activities and amusements. Eventually, the unconscious self surfaces, becoming conscious, becoming aware of what is inside oneself. To be alone with oneself is to face oneself.

But fear of what is inside oneself, what is “buried” underneath the conscious self, may result in a flight from the self. One of the many tragedies of life is existential alienation, “the split within,” psychological estrangement. In other words, one goes throughout one’s entire life, being surrounded by all kinds of people, constantly in association with them, even laughing and having a good time with them, without ever having known the one human person that is closest to oneself, namely, one’s very own self!

The ancient Greek dictum “Know thyself” is applicable to today. The point of the dictum is to be “in touch” with oneself, to take some lessons from within, becoming familiar with one’s inner thoughts and feelings, both the negative and positive ones. Therefore, take some time away from all the “hustle and bustle of life,” with all its noise, “sound and fury.” Then the self will learn to know oneself, to value its own being; in short, to love oneself.

When was the last time you heard from you?