My Broken Demo Tape - Superman 3
I (Tom) have always been an avid fan of [American] football.
I grew up in a family in which the sport defined our lives. My dad was a coach and my brother played division 1 college football. I had aspirations of reaching those heights but I came up short. I wasn’t good. And notably, I was on a team with a lot of assholes. These kids quite possibly didn't even know that they were assholes (and still might not know). This song is a caricature of those people. I’m more aware now of how many other people had similar encounters with players on their local school’s team. I still love football and this song is filled with references from my childhood where I was a participant in the sport.
This is also the third song we have written about sports culture in America, hence the 3 in the title. The first two are on an EP that we just released on 10/6-
https://mybrokendemotape.bandcamp.com/album/ybdt
Glossary-
Quarterback: Player who throws and calls most of the plays for the offense.
Lineman: Players who defend the quarterback from opposing defenders.
All-American: An athlete honored as one of the best amateurs in the US.
Something tells me I'm a hero
I walk around like I own the place
They even got my picture up
In the barbershop window
Something tells me I'm a "real one"
I've thrown passes that could reach the stars
I even ran for a hundred yards
in the season opener
Ya know they say this game is life
At the very time the leaves will die
And my shoulder breaks
beyond the weight it carries
And for a moment it felt great
When all those posers boo'd my name
Cause in the back of their minds
they know there’s a Superman playing
Something tells me I’m a giver
I volunteer at my local church
I even offered to pray for the queers
even though they are sinners
Something tells me I'm a rebel
I almost burned down my neighbors house
But I was just messin' around
with a molotov cocktail
Ya know the second things go bad
They all wanna blame the quarterback
Even though it's mediocre coach
and the linemen hate me
And for a second it felt grand
Between the fans and marching bands
But in the back of my mind I'm bored
cause I'm a superman baby
Something tells me it’s been written
I see my story on the other-side
Of the hall of fame, I’m bound
for the lights of Canton
Something tells me I’m a legend
I know gonna be remembered well
And by this time next fall
I’ll be an All-American