Superman

I’ve always found Five for Fighting’s ‘Superman’ oddly soothing.

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 alright 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
It's not easy to be me


But when I was asked to perform it last night, somehow everything clicked.

I cringed when I was introduced with an accolade, knowing there are colleagues who resent that I’ve been given some award. Just that morning I reached school to find that the banner proclaiming my victory had been slashed. Hmmm.. hopefully I’m not next.

And then I performed the song and every word just made sense.
The unspoken expectations on me. Little Miss Bubbly who happens to have lots of workable ideas.

I wonder about that colleague who envies me,
We’re the same age. I’ve got a national award. She’s married with a kid.
Does she have a right to envy me and do I have a right to envy her?
‘I wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
'Bout a home I'll never see’

Silly woman. What’s there to envy?

I'm just looking for special things inside of me.