Album: America Town (2000)

Charted: 48 14

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• 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 Writer/s: John Ondrasik
  Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 37

• Paul Ely from VirginiaThe lyrics have a multitude of different meanings to me. I see the drain that the Superman character played on George Reeves (first Superman on TV). I see unappreciated heroes who serve as first responders. I can see a family man who needs to take care of his family while all of the pressures of his own life have to be dealt with later, because family comes first. I can also see the meaning that Ondrasik originally put to words.
  
  It’s one of the most powerful soulful and sincere songs written in the past 20+ years and it has found a place to fit in so many actual life situations. The one thing it’s not is a song about greatness and lack of being humble. It’s about humbleness.
• L from MichiganThis song reminds me of my father. He was in a coma for 8 months. He eventually died . Still cry when I hear this song. He's been gone 20 years.
• Shot In Toronto from TorontoWas surprised to see that the music video was filmed in Toronto… with an early scene showing the downtown intersection of Richmond St and Yonge St.
  
  However, one of the best videos aligned to the song was the ending montage of the CBC broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Beautiful editing.
• AnonymousStrangely enough, this song was playing on WPLJ 95.5 (now off the air) radio station in NYC when the first tower was hit on September 11th. I know because I was driving on the BQE, with a clear view of the first tower after it had been hit, and I could see the black smoke rising and glittering particles of glass flitting above the East River. I turned on the radio to see if anyone was reporting anything about it. The song "Superman" was playing. At the time no one knew just yet that it had been terrorists, and so when the song ended, the deejays were saying how "there was a nightmare going on down at the trade center," and how it seemed like a small Cessna might have crashed into it. Little did they know, yet. A few minutes later the second tower was hit and the deejays came on and said, "This is a deliberate attack!" I had taken note of the song because of the irony that it had been playing at the time of the attack. If only Superman were real... :(
• Anonymous This song has meant so much to me for many reasons. For forever, I’ve felt that I needed to be the bigger person for others. After facing bullying growing up, I always strived to be the person for others that I never had. Now that I’m older, people see me on the surface as this happy person, and almost disregard me. They fail to see the real me for the person I am... and I feel this is what this song is about.
  
  It’s about struggling to be what people need you to be and people misunderstanding you. All the while searching for who you are and for someone that understands. This is at least what this song means to me.
• Joel from Princeton, NjGreat song. Should have been used on House
• Nathan Ritz from Paoli, Inthere is not a hero in all of us James, is there a hero in a rapist, murderer or someone like me, i'm not a rapist or a murderer but you get the f--king point
• Kimewaza from Falling Waters, WvI love this song. To me Ondrasik is equating the job of a superhero to all of us who are parents, older siblings or other type of role model. It is not always easy to be perfect but we must project that image to allow those who look up to us to rest easy, to know that we are looking out for them, "It's all right, You can all sleep sound tonight." The use of Superman as our counterpart is brilliant.
• Carey from St Thomas, OnI was struggling with addiction and the life  that came with it.I heard this song one day when my head was spinning,this was me. Nobody knew what was going on in my head, the thoughts,the feelings i was having. It was so" hard to be me".All the pressures in my life i couldn t live with them.Luckily for me i found a group of people who felt the same way and i could relate with.Today i m clean and i hope if you feel the same way, you find the same group of people i did. It s called NA and it save my life
• Mitchell from Adelaide, Australia To me this song is about how much it sucks to be a hero, I can't remember what show it was off of (not related to the song), but there was this guy who loved comic books and he said about how this comic he was reading wasn't about the normal man wanting to become a superhero, but the superhero wanting to become a normal man, he couldn't wait to get back in his normal clothes and work a normal job. That's what I think this song is about.
  
  The song says about not having the choice to lose or to have a family and live in a nice home and do all those kinds of things when being a super hero, and its like whoever it is, is speaking to somebody who wants to become a hero, "Its, not easy to be me".
• B from Los Angeles, Cai recall many years ago when this song came out John did an interview and said that what it means to him is what it's like to be a parent and how you feel like you have to be like a superman to keep up, and also feel like you need to be perfect for you kids.
• Eb from Orlando Metro, FlThis song reminds me of my husband because it came out he was going through a particularly stressful time in his life. He is a bi-vocational minister, pastoring a church and working a full time job that was very stressful. He was always "on call" with the people from the church, deadlines with his secular job -being pulled in all directions. Because he's a minister, people seem to expect more from him, even perfection. He is special and gifted in certain areas, he does have a call from God on his life, that's why he does what he does, but he's also a regular guy. He is my hero, a real man, with real problems but he does his best, by the help and grace of God. He's a great Dad & Husband!
• Phillip from Shady Point, OkSince I have became a 100% Disabled Veteran, this song reminds me of how I was and how I am now. It ain't easy to be wheelchair bound. this song keeps me going!
• Grupoo from Phoenix, AzMy journeys have led to roles directing amazing possibilities. Destroy, save, maintain all are options while I practice my craft. Now, with time I have become a spirit hoping to find grounding. Hoping that ego remains in check and the S on my chest doesn't tarnish.
• Paul from Melbourne, AustraliaThe song is basicly about the ultimate symbol for perfection in the eyes of society wanting to just be himself.
• James from Arley, AlIt is about how there is a hero in all of us; we just have to find it. We didn't realize tah as a nation until 9/11.
• Terry from Coeur D'alene, IdThis so is about being honest with yourself. Most of us do not see ourselves the way other people see us, so we try to live up to their "expectations", but what we really want is to let people know that we're not as good, or as strong, or perfect as they think. I relate to this song.
• Steve from Burkburnett, Txi can relate to this song because im a band geek with a leadership role. The person that i took orders graduated and i was given office of leadership over my section. He was a great guy and insanely smart and good at music, i felt so lame when it felt like i was incompetent to lead my portion of the band the way my friend did. Even though i had power, i felt weak.
• Gerald from Philippines, Otherim a die hard Led zep fan! but i like this really
  it makes me reminisce past unforgetable events!
• Alex from St-marthe, Althis song has been is and will be my greatest one ever, even thought each time i hear it, it makes me feel so bad.Its about self-esteem, and acceptation, which i need.
• Jeff from Sothington, Cti dint even realize this song was about sept.11 i just loved the song when i heard it on the radio, i really like and and i dont like it when ppl disect songs alot...just listen and enjoy it..i can play it on the piano and never stop because i love it...as a matter of fact im listening to it now..and + i like sad stuff :-(
• Nathan from Defiance, OhCan you really imagine this crap becoming a hit if not for the feelings of depression after September 11th? After hearing this song I think the terrorists have won. Screw Ondrasik, and all other whiney rockers
• Danny from Sydney, Australia1 hit wonders? yes.
• Robert from Puyallup, WaI always think "What if?...." about really good songs. For this one, it was: "What if Superman held in contempt the very people he had taken it upon himself to protect?"
  The line "You can all sleep sound tonight" seems very bitter and cynical.
• Noli from Manila, Othersobrang ganda ng meaning at lyrics ng kantang 'to...i really love singing this song. it only means that it's not easy to be someone who has a great responsibility over everyone. maybe superman really feel this way
• Justin from Scranton, Paawesome song....no1 is perfect and everyone has problems...superman feels he can only help so much of the problem, and thats why its hard to be him, to see us all sufer
• Monty from Omaha, NeThis song is great but it makes me wonder why there are no other introspective songs about superheroes? Is the Human Torch not deep enough? Is Blue Beetle not frought with emotional baggage? Come on, you can't tell me the Wonder Twins don't have issues.
• Brady from Fort Stockton, Txjust shortly after 9/11, my eighth grade teacher made us analyze this song from the perspective of a mourning, introspective nation. Great song, but i've heard too much about it, so i don't like to listen to it much anymore.
• Ariel from Woodbridge, Cti can relate a lot to this song, cause its like im only human, and i cant do everything, you try doing my job and you'll see its more than flying around in a cape
• Kristen from Campbellville, CanadaI alwayz saw it as everyone is a superhero if they want to be, anyone has the powere to good. So beautiful, I mean thats like a part of it for me even if thats not its meaning
• Lacy Ann from Sturbridge, MaThis is one of my all time favorite songs. It was what made me beg for the CD for christmas that year. "It ain't easy... to be... me"
• Jessica from Greeneville, TnIt is a truthful song about reÃ¥l people. Saying everyone feels some kind of pain or fear in their life.
• Brett from Edmonton, CanadaThere used to be a spoof of this on the Internet about Aquaman (the guy who made it also did a spoof of "Fortunate Son" with Batman and has done others about Green Lantern, Wonder Woman etc)
• Terri Lynn from Heart's Desire, Canadathis is a very meaningful song... great for anytime you feel like a misfit and that no one gets who you are. the lyrics are great,
  'nuff said.
• Jared from Norwalk, OhI agree with Antoinette. It is a great song and it makes you think but it has a great theme to it, a good song to just kick back after a long day.
• Max from Montreal, CanadaWas on the sountrack on Bandits with Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Willis and Kate Blanchette
• Antoinette from Bloemfontein, South Africait's a great song,lets you think

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