Vladimir John Ondrasik III, known by his stage name Five for Fighting, sang the song Superman. It is far from a Christian hymn but reveals the inner feelings of many a man. My son introduced it to me saying it was really funny but meaningful. He was right.
The song is about a man who feels as though he is unable to live up to others’ expectations. He can’t possibly be all that other people want him to be. He comes up short of expectations placed on him and believes, at times, he looks absolutely ridiculous. Knowing that society says, “Don’t bleed,” he grapples with the human need to do so. He misses something called home that doesn’t exist on earth. The battle rages inside of him and the relief valve doesn’t seem to want to function.
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
Oh, it’s not easy to be me
Once you give up on the idea that you’re not superman but a mere man, there is hope. God created us to be men and not supermen.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Give it some thought, take your place, and please don’t try to fly.
Gary