This song makes several references to the superhero of the same name, but it’s also about the everyday heroes of the real world.

An Easy Song to Write

It usually takes John Ondrasik, better known as Five for Fighting, ample time and plenty of rough drafts before he can call it finished. “Superman” was an exception.

“With the exception of doubling up the second pre-hook, I wrote the whole thing in less than an hour,” he told American Songwriter.

The song became inextricably tied to 9/11 after Five for Fighting performed the song at Madison Square Garden as part of the Concert for New York City on October 20th, 2001. It was a moment for countless people to grieve together who hadn’t yet had the chance.

To Fly or Not to Fly?

From the first line of the first verse, the lyrics are shrouded in mystery and packed with meaning:

“I can’t stand to fly / I’m not that naive / I’m just out to find / The better part of me”

The phrase “stand to fly” is in itself a piece of wordplay. Ondrasik could be referring to an actual superhero who refuses to leave the ground. It makes the listener wonder why this would-be hero won’t become airborne. Maybe he doesn’t want to stand out, or he believes there’s someone better for the task.

Instead of flying, the narrator is on a journey of self-discovery. He believes it would be naive of him to fly. Something keeps him on the ground. He sees the potential drawbacks of flying: it might not be strategic, and he would be revealing himself to everyone.

Catchphrases and Movie References

“I’m more than a bird, I’m more than a plane / I’m more than some pretty face beside a train / And it’s not easy to be me”

Most people are familiar with the classic comic book line, “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Superman!”

Fans may also recall that less than a half hour into the 1978 “Superman” movie, teenage Clark Kent runs alongside a passenger train in a boyish show of his abilities.

As for the “pretty face,” the Man of Steel has always been known for having an attractive countenance, whether it’s drawn in the comics or portrayed by the likes of Christopher Reeve or Henry Cavill.

Everyday Heroes

“I wish that I could cry / Fall upon my knees / Find a way to lie / ‘Bout a home I’ll never see”

It’s easy to picture that the narrator is literally referring to the superhero. However, these lines could just as easily apply to more earthbound heroes and their acts of everyday heroics.

Superman often couldn’t allow himself to show human emotion, had to hide who he truly was and lost his home forever. So many people have experienced these things and have to find a way to live with them. It’s part of what makes this song so relatable to so many people.

In the second chorus, the narrator humanizes the heroes and speaks of their dreams:

“It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive / Even heroes have the right to bleed / I may be disturbed, but won’t you concede / Even heroes have the right to dream / And it’s not easy to be me”

Another Superman catchphrase kicks off the bridge: “Up, up, and away!” Ondrasik links it to the phrase “away from me” to show how distanced and disconnected the narrator has become:

“Up, up, and away, away from me / Well, it’s alright / You can all sleep sound tonight / I’m not crazy or anything”

Look Inside

The last line of the bridge seems to imply that the narrator is defensive about his state of mind. Others have made him feel that he’s not thinking straight, and he has to continuously refute their claims to convince himself.

“I’m only a man in a silly red sheet / Diggin’ for kryptonite on this one-way street / Only a man in a funny red sheet / Lookin’ for special things inside of me”

Amidst the explicit Superman references, the message here is that it ultimately comes down to what’s on the inside. Even superheroes have to dig deep to find the strength within themselves. They too feel weak and hopeless at times, and having powerful abilities doesn’t always make things easy.

Lyrics

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find
The better part of me

I’m more than a bird, I’m more than a plane
I’m more than some pretty face beside a train
And it’s not easy to be me

I wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
‘Bout a home I’ll never see

It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed, but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream?
And it’s not easy to be me

Up, up, and away, away from me
Well, it’s all right
You can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy
Or anything

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me

Inside of me
Inside of me
Yeah, inside of me
Inside of me

I’m only a man in a funny red sheet
I’m only a man looking for a dream
I’m only a man in a funny red sheet
And it’s not easy, ooh, ooh, ooh
It’s not easy to be me

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Gary Zekley / Mitch Bottler

Superman (It’s Not Easy) lyrics © Colgems-emi Music Inc., Five For Fighting Music