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(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman Lyrics
Woke up this morning, started to sneeze
I had a cigarette and a cup of tea
I looked in the mirror what did I see
A nine stone weakling with knobbly knees
I did my knees bend press ups touch my toes
I had another sneeze and I blew my nose
I looked in the mirror at my pigeon chest
I had to put on my clothes because it made me depressed
Surely there must be a way
For me to change the shape I’m in
Dissatisfied is what I am
I want to be a better man
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Superman superman I want to be like superman
I want to be like superman
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Woke up this morning, what did I see
A big black cloud hanging over me
I switched on the radio and nearly dropped dead
The news was so bad that I fell out of bed
There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike
Got to be a superman to survive
Gas bills, rent bills, tax bills, phone bills
I’m such a wreck but I’m staying alive
[look in the paper, what do I see,
Robbery, violence, insanity.]
Hey girl we’ve got to get out of this place
There’s got to be something better than this
I need you, but I hate to see you this way
If I were superman then we’d fly away
I’d really like to change the world
And save it from the mess it’s in
I’m too weak, I’m so thin
I’d like to fly but I can’t even swim
Superman superman I want to fly like superman
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Superman superman I want to be like superman
Superman superman I want to fly like superman
I had a cigarette and a cup of tea
I looked in the mirror what did I see
A nine stone weakling with knobbly knees
I did my knees bend press ups touch my toes
I had another sneeze and I blew my nose
I looked in the mirror at my pigeon chest
I had to put on my clothes because it made me depressed
Surely there must be a way
For me to change the shape I’m in
Dissatisfied is what I am
I want to be a better man
Superman superman I want to be like superman
I want to be like superman
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
A big black cloud hanging over me
I switched on the radio and nearly dropped dead
The news was so bad that I fell out of bed
There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike
Got to be a superman to survive
Gas bills, rent bills, tax bills, phone bills
I’m such a wreck but I’m staying alive
Robbery, violence, insanity.]
There’s got to be something better than this
I need you, but I hate to see you this way
If I were superman then we’d fly away
I’d really like to change the world
And save it from the mess it’s in
I’m too weak, I’m so thin
I’d like to fly but I can’t even swim
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Superman superman wish I could fly like superman
Superman superman I want to be like superman
Superman superman I want to fly like superman
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Pretty simple. The line "Gotta be a Superman to survive" pretty much says it all. Life's too hard for any normal person to surivive it alone.
I disagree, but it still a good song.
@TheSilverNoble I think a lot of us feel like we need to be superman to survive (make it) in the world today, but in reality we don't ... just whether we realise this or not :)
@TheSilverNoble I think a lot of us feel like we need to be superman to survive (make it) in the world today, but in reality we don't ... just whether we realise this or not :)
@TheSilverNoble if it’s in your mind, and you can’t stop thinking on it, it’s very real. To the person who can’t stop it from running through their mind anyway...
@TheSilverNoble if it’s in your mind, and you can’t stop thinking on it, it’s very real. To the person who can’t stop it from running through their mind anyway...
It's about the Winter of Discontent in Great Britain in 1979-1979, when this song was written.
There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike Got to be a superman to survive
There were tonnes of strikes in that year, at that brought Marageret Thatcher into power. Ray was aying that the world was so f-ed up in 1979, that you needed super-powers to get things done.
I love the simplicity of the lyrics. Yeah it's obviously about the Winter of Discontent In Britain "There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike Got to be a superman to survive" Pretty straight forward.
It's too easy to say this song is just about the Winter of Discontent. That may be what the second verse is about, but what about the first? And the last?
The singer is completely disillusioned with himself, disgusted by himself, and his weedy physical state, but it's treated with a comical lightness of touch, which lends itself to sympathy for the character.
I love this song, and it's great to listen to first thing in the morning, and to think, oh good, it's not just me. The world is fcked. I'm fcked. You'd have to be a Superman just to survive. Genius.
@FishesWillLaugh agree it goes beyond simply the Winter of Discontent ... there is definitely a introspective element to the song
@FishesWillLaugh agree it goes beyond simply the Winter of Discontent ... there is definitely a introspective element to the song
This song makes me think he's referring to the book "1984" with such a gray and hopeless world. Just like in 1984, he hopes to escape that nightmare with his mate, as in "Hey girl we’ve got to get out of this place", and just like the book, no joy - life will continue to be a nightmare.
@DocMessenger interesting idea and a different take to others ... thanks for sharing
@DocMessenger interesting idea and a different take to others ... thanks for sharing
Oh, that makes sense. Pretty decent song.
Love it! I think it's amazing how this band made so many different kinds of songs. Such a great song
I have NO idea what this song is about but I LOVE IT...
love this song
This song has a strong disco beat, which is why most of my friends hated it at the time. The line "I'm staying alive" is obviously a reference to the Bee Gees. At the time I thought the line "Hey girl we gotta get outta this place" meant leave the disco where the song was being played.