Our Lady Peace: Superman's Dead Meaning

Song Released: 1996

Superman's Dead Lyrics

Do you worry that you’re not liked
How long till you break
You’re happy cause you smile
But how much can you fake
An ordinary boy an ordinary name
But ordinary’s just not good enough today

Alone I’m thinking
Why is superman dead
Is it...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 20th 2008 !⃝

   This song is about lacking individualism and originality. Superman had an ordinary life that covered up his superhero life but then superman is dead he only has his ordinary life... with the fake smile but you need someone to hate. The lack of feelings towards someone or something makes someone not exist just another person in the crowd. Kneel down and obey again is just listening to others and lacking individualism and being ordinary. The part where the world is a subway is the only part I don't understand if someone has an answer
2. anonymous

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   Sep 10th !⃝

   my interpretation of this song is that it is about bullying. before you js skip this hear me out please. the out of ordinary line in the song is “the worlds a subway” and in my interpretation this could mean that over the internet and technology adaptations it is so easy to be mean and bully someone else. for another example think about the lines “ ordinary girl, ordinary waist, but ordinarys just not good enough today” could mean that pretty girls don’t get bullied as often as girls with “un-ordinary waists”.
3. C?rey H?ltz

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   Dec 25th 2014 !⃝

   Okay guys, Our Lady Peace is definitely one of the best bands ever, and this is what I'm fairly certain that this song is about:
   
   It's about life in general, but it's mainly about growing up and realizing what the real world is all about. Throughout the song it's stating all your typical high school bs. Not being good enough or thinking you need to live by certain expectations when you don't. "Superman's Dead" in itself refers to growing up, you realize as you come into the real world that there are no such things as the heroes you grew up on as a kid.
   
   Welcome to life, all the simple things that you stressed about in your younger days, you realize they were pointless and meaningless. "Doesn't anybody ever know that the worlds a subway" confirms this, as it's saying that we are only here for a short time. Our life in this world is simply a ride on the subway and we all get off at our stop when we leave this world.
   
   It's a brilliant message in and of itself to not dwell on what society tells us is important, or how we should think and feel, but to find out for ourselves what makes our own life worth living and to do it.
   
   It's your life, you take control of it, be your own hero and make your life worth living because no one else is going to do it for you. After all, the world is a subway, you may as well enjoy your ride as best as you can.
4. anonymous

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   Sep 12th 2011 !⃝

   "Superman" was a term used by Nietzsche in his existentialist work. It refers to an individual that is above society's norms and beliefs and makes his/her own decisions based on his/her own intuitive sense. Therefore, if "Superman" is dead, we have no choice but to be lost in the crowd - a follower. As for the "subway" line... a SUBway is underground - not in plain view. He's simply in disbelief that no one ever realizes that the world is subjective and not objective. Finally, a word about videos - a director is hired to come up with a concept for the video - therefore, not always a good indication of the true meaning of the lyrics.
5. anonymous

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   May 3rd 2011 !⃝

   This song is about losing control and trying to find your back to sanity but trying to be what you're not to find yourself in the mix and superman's not there to save you he's dead.
6. anonymous

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   Feb 28th 2011 !⃝

   i like everyone's interpretation so far and they all seem valid. the only part of the song which sticks out to me is "life is a subway". it could be interpreted as you are in a crowded subway full of people, a sea of ordinariness. and all the people are going in the same direction. it all smacks of being a follower not a leader and finding someone or something to believe in. the last light of individuality has gone, superman's dead.
7. Merced?s M?retti ?

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   Feb 14th 2011 !⃝

   well, in the music video you clearly see a girl and boy stuck in either a box or a dollhouse, and it looks like they are doing regular routines... for instance the girl is told when to play with her doll, when to pray, the boy plays with a toy robot etc etc...and it looks like an adult figure is looking down on them, watching them, monitoring them. I think this songs about, people who are forced into pretending to be something their not. "Do you worry that your not liked? How long do you break? Your happy cause you smile, but how much can you fake?" Meaning, you try and go along with what society says because, "ordinary's just not good enough today,"
   Then the lyrics go, "im thinking, why is superman dead," Meaning, theres no one to save us, superman isnt real, so why have to deal with it. Then "doesnt anybody ever know, that the worlds a subway," i think it means life goes on forever, we shouldnt pretend to be something we're not. We have to go through life making mistakes, learning new experiences, and no ones perfect. this song isnt obvious with the lyrics, so there are many interpretations of it.
8. anonymous

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   Aug 8th 2008 !⃝

   I think this song is about bullying... Just read the lyrics and you'll hopefully see what I can see.
9. anonymous

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   Oct 18th 2007 !⃝

   This song has to do with personal happiness obliterated by societies pressure to be better than ordinary, and that there is no one to save us because there is no Superman, he's dead.
10. anonymous

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    Feb 26th 2007 !⃝

    To me this song is about having no control. "Kneel down and obey." In the music video kids are being used in experiments and they are told by a panel what to do.
    Superman symbolizes hope, which is lost.
    The song also deals with the issue of neutralizing who you are to feel as if you are no one. "Whether or not you should hate."

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