Album: Even In The Quietest Moments (1977)

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Songfacts®:

• Written by Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, this song tells of Hodgson's spiritual path that he began during recording of the Even In The Quietest Moments album. A "Babaji" is a Hindu holy man. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Daryl - Stoke, Midlands, England
• Hodgson wrote this song after reading the book Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. The book was written in 1946 and told the story of Yogananda's spiritual journey.
• In the '60s, the Beatles followed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on a spiritual quest, even traveling to India to study with him. Hodgson was one of many young musicians who idolized The Beatles and saw their excursion into Eastern philosophy. Speaking of the influence, he said: "I was a teenager throughout the whole Beatles era, their whole history, so that's what influenced me the most to tell you the truth, because not only did they change my life but I obviously saw the way they changed our whole culture and changed the world.
  
  When I got together with Rick and formed Supertramp, I really wanted to see what we could do to have the same impact in a way or leave as powerful a legacy. I mean, I was really driven by the excellence and the bravery and the breaking new boundaries that the Beatles taught me with Supertramp." (Thanks to Lisa Doxrude at Roger's management company for her help.)

Comments: 4

• Lorraine Haataia, Phd from Casa Grande, ArizonaI've been a Supertramp fan since high school, singing along to Babaji for years without understanding its meaning—until this week. After reading the awesome Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, I finally made the connection. It’s a powerful reminder that God, through our angels, our gurus, our light beings, and many protectors, has been calling out to us our entire lives. We simply need to be aware of their presence, trust in their guidance, and remain open to tuning in.
  
  Oh Babaji, oh how you comfort me
  Babaji, oh won't you come to me
  Won't you help me to face the music
  Is it time, is it time, is it time
  Is it time to know...
  
  Instinctively, I felt connected to many of Supertramp’s melodies, and now, as I understand more about their deeper meaning, I’m even more aware of the love and protection that has always been present. With deep appreciation, I feel ever closer to eternal enlightenment.
• Randy Irvine from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia I have been a Supertramp fan for many years, seeing them live at Festival Hall, Brisbane in the 70s. I only just discovered what Babaji means. How some things resonate within us and then 50 years later it becomes clear, why.
• Peter Auwerda from ArubaWhen I asked Roger Hodgson during his meet&greet on February 26, 2020 in The Villages FL, he confirmed to me that Autobiography of A Yogi was the inspiration for his song Babaji, thereby answering my 29 year old question when I as a Supertramp fan had read this book and was one day listening to Even In The Quietest Moments. I wish that Roger had read The Holy Science by Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, who together with Paramahansa Yogananda, Lahiri Mahasaya and Mahavatar Babaji are all on the famous Beatles' album cover Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Imagine, why would the Beatles put 4 guru's of the same linneage on their cover, and not the guru's of 4 different traditions?
• Jeffrey from Rosemead, CaThis unassuming song is as super as one can experience! I treasure it along with "Jesus" by Cat Stevens and "Jeruselem" by ELP.

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