John Ondrasik probably didn't know he was writing the definitive anthem for a generation’s collective burnout when he sat down at his piano in the late 90s. He was just a guy from Los Angeles trying to make it in a music industry that didn't quite know what to do with a sensitive, piano-driven singer-songwriter. But then came "Superman (It’s Not Easy)."
The superman song by five for fighting isn't actually about a guy in a cape. Not really. It’s about the crushing weight of being "the man" or the "hero" in your own life and realizing you’re actually just a human being who bleeds when things get messy. It’s about the exhaustion of excellence.
Honestly, we’ve all been there. You're trying to save the world—or at least your corner of it—and you realize your "S" on your chest is starting to look a lot like a target.
The Story Behind the Cape
Before it was a multi-platinum hit, the superman song by five for fighting was just another track on an album called America Town. Released in 2000, it didn't immediately set the world on fire. John Ondrasik, who is Five for Fighting (the name comes from a hockey penalty, which is a weirdly aggressive choice for such a melodic artist), wrote it from a place of personal frustration. He was struggling with his career. He felt the pressure of the industry. He felt like he had to be more than he was.
Then, September 11th happened.
History has a way of hijacking art. Suddenly, a song about a vulnerable superhero became the soundtrack for a nation looking at its first responders—the real-life Supermen—and realizing they were hurting too. It was played at The Concert for New York City. It was everywhere. It became a cultural touchstone because it gave people permission to be tired. It gave heroes permission to be human.
The lyrics are deceptively simple. "I'm only a man in a silly red sheet." It's a line that hits different when you realize how much we project onto the people we admire. We expect them to be invulnerable. We forget they need a nap and a glass of water and maybe a good cry just as much as the rest of us.
Why the Piano Hook Matters
Musically, the song is a masterclass in tension and release. That opening piano riff? It’s iconic. It feels like a heartbeat. It’s steady, a little melancholy, but persistent.
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Ondrasik’s vocals go from a soft, almost whispered verse to that soaring, strained falsetto in the chorus. That strain is important. It’s intentional. You can hear the effort. If he sang it perfectly and effortlessly, the message would be lost. The "it’s not easy" part has to sound like it actually isn't easy.
Misconceptions About the "Superman Song"
A lot of people think this song was written specifically for the Man of Steel. Some even think it was part of a movie soundtrack first. It wasn't. While the DC character is the obvious metaphor, Ondrasik has mentioned in various interviews over the years that it was more about his own internal struggle with the music business and the feeling of inadequacy.
Another common mistake? People think Five for Fighting is a full band. Nope. It’s mostly just John. He’s the architect. He’s the one who decided to use a hockey term for a project that features some of the most sensitive adult-contemporary hits of the 2000s.
There's also this weird idea that the song is "sad." I’d argue it’s actually hopeful. It’s the sound of someone dropping the act. There is a massive amount of relief that comes when you finally admit you can’t fly. Once you admit you’re grounded, you can actually start walking toward something real.
The Lyrics: A Breakdown of the Burden
Think about the line: "Even heroes have the right to bleed."
That was a radical thing to say in the early 2000s when pop culture was still very much obsessed with the "strong, silent type." This song arrived right as the world was shifting. We were starting to care about mental health. We were starting to look at the cracks in the facade.
- The Identity Crisis: "I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane." This is the classic struggle of being defined by your output rather than your soul.
- The Isolation: "It’s a long way down." Being at the top is lonely. Whether you're a CEO, a parent, or a literal superhero, the higher you go, the fewer people there are who actually understand the view.
- The Search for Home: Superman is an alien. He doesn't belong. The song captures that feeling of being an outsider looking in, even when everyone is cheering for you.
How "Superman" Changed the Career of John Ondrasik
Before this track, Five for Fighting was a blip on the radar. After? Ondrasik became a staple of the Billboard charts. He followed it up with "100 Years," another song that tackles the passage of time and the weight of existence.
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He found a niche. He became the guy who wrote the songs people played at graduations, funerals, and weddings—the big life moments where "fine" isn't an adequate description of how you feel.
But with that success came a new kind of pressure. The irony isn't lost on anyone: he wrote a song about the pressure of being a hero, and the song became so big that he then had the pressure of living up to its legacy. He handled it well, though. He’s stayed active in philanthropy and has used his platform to support troops and their families, leaning into the "hero" theme in a way that feels authentic rather than commercial.
The Technical Side of the Track
For the gear nerds out there, the production on the superman song by five for fighting is surprisingly stripped back for a pop-rock hit of that era. Produced by Gregg Wattenberg, it avoids the over-processed "wall of sound" that dominated the early 2000s.
The vocals are dry. The piano is front and center. The strings provide a swell, but they don't drown out the intimacy. It sounds like it was recorded in a room, not a laboratory. This is why it hasn't aged as poorly as some of its contemporaries. You can listen to it today and it doesn't scream "2001" the way a Nu-Metal track or a bubblegum pop song does.
Comparisons to Other "Hero" Songs
How does it stack up against something like "Hero" by Mariah Carey or "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down?
Mariah's "Hero" is about finding strength within yourself. It’s an empowerment anthem. 3 Doors Down's "Kryptonite" is more of a rock-infused question about loyalty—will you still be there when I’m weak?
But Five for Fighting? This song is an admission of defeat that somehow feels like a victory. It’s not asking you to find your inner strength. It’s asking everyone else to let you be weak for a second. That’s a very different, and much more relatable, message.
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The Cultural Legacy: Why We Still Listen
Go to any karaoke bar or open mic night. Eventually, someone is going to try to hit those high notes. They usually fail, but the sentiment remains.
The song has appeared in countless TV shows, from Smallville (obviously) to The Sopranos (okay, maybe not that one, but you get the point). It’s become a shorthand for "vulnerable guy having a moment."
But beyond the memes and the overplaying on adult contemporary radio, the superman song by five for fighting matters because it captures a universal truth: being the "strong one" is exhausting. In a world that constantly demands we be "on"—on social media, at work, in our relationships—the idea that it's "not easy" is the most honest thing anyone can say.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own "Hero" Journey
If you find yourself relating a little too hard to John Ondrasik’s lyrics lately, it might be time to take a page out of the song's book. You don't actually have to be Superman.
- Audit your "Cape" Responsibilities: Look at your daily life. How many of the things you're stressed about are things you've taken on because you think you should be able to handle them? Sometimes, being a hero just means knowing when to delegate the "saving the world" stuff.
- Find Your "Lois Lane": Everyone needs someone who sees them without the suit. Find the person or the space where you don't have to be "on."
- Embrace the "Right to Bleed": Vulnerability isn't a weakness; it's a diagnostic tool. If you're hurting, it's a sign that something needs to change. Ignoring the "bleeding" doesn't make you a hero; it just makes you a casualty.
- Listen to the Lyrics Again: Seriously. Put on some headphones, sit in a dark room, and really listen to the bridge. It’s a reminder that search for "home" and "justice" and "light" is a human endeavor, not a superhuman one.
The next time you hear those opening piano chords, don't just roll your eyes because you've heard it a thousand times. Listen to the exhaustion in the voice. Recognize the "silly red sheet" in your own closet. And then, for a few minutes, give yourself permission to just stay on the ground. It's a long way down, sure, but the ground is where the real life happens anyway.
Stop trying to fly when you’re out of fuel. Re-evaluate your commitments this week and cut one thing that is only there to preserve your "super" image. Your sanity will thank you.