# Pop songs that mention Superman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203 "2006-11-29T16:24:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/1 "2006-11-29T16:24:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ferd\_Burfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@Ferd\_Burfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferd_Burfel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/2 "2006-11-29T16:26:56Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] 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. [/QUOTE] “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 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/3 "2006-11-29T16:28:14Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/4 "2006-11-29T16:28:22Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/5 "2006-11-29T16:32:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/6 "2006-11-29T16:33:27Z")
_Superman’s Big Sister_ by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/7 "2006-11-29T16:38:07Z")
Goldfinger - “Superman” Still one of the best tunes to come out of the third wave of ska. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/8 "2006-11-29T16:40:22Z")
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” ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/9 "2006-11-29T16:41:27Z")
Spin Doctor’s - “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” - mentions Superman, Clark, Lois Lane & Jimmy Olsen ---
**Author:** ![Carlyjay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Carlyjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlyjay)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/10 "2006-11-29T16:43:32Z")
“Superman’s Dead” by Our Lady Peace. Awesome song. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/11 "2006-11-29T16:44:12Z")
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](http://www.redboots.net/smusical/musical.htm) so I imagine he’s mentioned in some of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@pretend\_my\_name\_is\_witty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pretend_my_name_is_witty)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/12 "2006-11-29T16:44:13Z")
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_ ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/13 "2006-11-29T16:44:46Z")
Bush - “Superman” The Kinks - “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman” ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/14 "2006-11-29T16:46:42Z")
(kinda sorta) XTC - “That’s Really Super, Supergirl” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/15 "2006-11-29T16:47:37Z")
“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.” ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/16 "2006-11-29T16:51:51Z")
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_.) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/17 "2006-11-29T16:54:10Z")
[QUOTE=Draelin] No mention of Three Doors Down’s “Kryptonite”? And I thought you guys were hip. 🙂 [/QUOTE] There was about to be, until you beat me to it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/18 "2006-11-29T16:58:06Z")
[QUOTE=Draelin] 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_.) [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/19 "2006-11-29T17:15:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203/20 "2006-11-29T17:26:37Z")
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_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-that-mention-superman/382203.md?page=2)