I read once somewhere that Superman is the fictional character mentioned most often in pop songs, but I am hard pressed to come up with examples other than “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan. Can anyone provide other examples? Also, does anyone think there is a fictional character mentioned more often? I am pretty sure the place I read this discounted all Bible figures, but not sure if any other restrictions were in place.
“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape,
You don’t spit into the wind.
You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Jim.”
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce
I am I am I am Superman
And I know what’s happening
I am I am I am Superman
And I can do anything
You don’t really love that guy
You make it with now do you
I know you don’t love that guy
'Cause I can see right through you
“Superman,” REM
The Crash Test Dummies’ “Superman Song” going to more of the ol’ school Supe:
“Superman never made any money
From saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see another man
Like him.”
Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five For Fighting. Superman isn’t mentioned by name in the lyrics, but it’s meant to be from his perspective.
Superman’s Big Sister by Ian Dury and the Blockheads.
Goldfinger - “Superman”
Still one of the best tunes to come out of the third wave of ska.
Baby I can fly like a bird
When you touch me with your eyes
Flying through the sky
I’ve never felt the same
But I am not a bird and I am not a plane
I’m Superman
– Barbra Streisand, “Superman”
Spin Doctor’s - “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” - mentions Superman, Clark, Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen
“Superman’s Dead” by Our Lady Peace. Awesome song.
Spin Doctors had an album called “Pocketful of Kryptonite” and a song called “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues” but they are dirty filthy hippies so I refuse to search for their lyrics to see if Superman is mentioned.
Superman was the topic of the Broadway musical It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman so I imagine he’s mentioned in some of the lyrics.
Can’t believe no-one’s mentioned Lazlo Bane’s superman, made famous for being the theme tune to Scrubs.
But I can’t do this all on my own
No, I know
I’m no Superman
I’m no Superman
Bush - “Superman”
The Kinks - “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman”
(kinda sorta) XTC - “That’s Really Super, Supergirl”
“Superman” by the Ides of March (circa 1970) was one of those attempts by a pop act to duplicate the success of their big hit by following up with a carbon copy of the original. “Superman” was a blatant clone of “Vehicle.” For the tag line, instead of “Great god in heaven, you know I love you!,” the lead singer bellows, “Great Caesar’s ghost, I’m Superman!” It was so crass it had me rolling on the floor with laughter when I heard it.
Robyn Hitchcock also did a song called “Superman.” On preview I see Autumn Almanac (appropriately enough) beat me to “(Wish I could Fly Like) Superman.”
No mention of Three Doors Down’s “Kryptonite”? And I thought you guys were hip. 
Most of the others I wanted to post have already been mentioned, but Superman is also mentioned in Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” (C’mon, admit it, you remember this song–you saw Footloose.)
There was about to be, until you beat me to it! 
Well technically the lyrics mention “a superman,” not specifically the Superman.
And I never saw Footloose but I love this song (and Bonnie’s other big hit Total Eclipse of the Heart). I remember HOFAH best from its use accompanying David Copperfield flying across the Grand Canyon on a TV special.
Bad Religion’s Do What You Want:
So do what you must, do all you can,
Break all the fucking rules and
Go to hell with superman and
Die like a champion, yeah hey!
Easily their best song.
Superman by Stereophonics
Superman on an aeroplane
Sitting next to Lois Lane
You got that woman but you want her gone
So you can sleep with a teenage blonde
You wear a mask wear an armoured suit
Can’t get to you with the gun I shoot
You play your cards close to your chest because ya
Poker face is a dreary mess
Waitin’ For A Superman by The Flaming Lips
Is it overwhelming
To use a crane to crush a fly?
It’s a good time for Superman
To lift the sun into the sky