The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm like that
Quick as a cat in the jungle
Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sitting around in no junglescape
Dumb as an ape, doing nothing
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job
Even though he could have smashed through any bank in the United States
He had the strength but he would not
Folks said his family were all dead
The planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself to carry on
Forget Krypton and keep going
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Tarzan was king of the jungle and lord over all of the apes
But he could hardly string together four words
I Tarzan, you Jane
Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back on man
Join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city
Kept on changing clothes in dirty old phone booths
'Til his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm like that
Quick as a cat in the jungle
Clark Kent, now there was a real gent
He would not be caught sitting around in no junglescape
Dumb as an ape, doing nothing
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job
Even though he could have smashed through any bank in the United States
He had the strength but he would not
Folks said his family were all dead
The planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself to carry on
Forget Krypton and keep going
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Tarzan was king of the jungle and lord over all of the apes
But he could hardly string together four words
I Tarzan, you Jane
Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes
I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back on man
Join Tarzan in the forest
But he stayed in the city
Kept on changing clothes in dirty old phone booths
'Til his work was through
And nothing to do but go on home
Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
Sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him
Lyrics submitted by neffsnicker
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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