"So You Wanna Be a Superhero" is a track by Carissa's Wierd, featured on their 2002 album Songs About Leaving. The band is known for their melancholic, slowcore style, and this song stands out for its haunting atmosphere, intimate lyrics, and emotional delivery12.
Lyrics & Themes
The lyrics of "So You Wanna Be a Superhero" convey a deep sense of longing, exhaustion, and existential struggle. The song describes sleepless nights, feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and the desire to escape painful realities. Repeated lines like "I might be leaving soon" underscore the pervasive sense of departure and emotional fatigue45.
Key lyrical themes include:
- Struggles with insomnia and restless thoughts:
"There's banging on the wall / It's 5am I've got no sleep at all / Just thoughts of how I might struggle through tomorrow." - Isolation and self-reflection:
"Wish I could call someone I love to stop thinking of myself / Long look in the mirror just looks so blankly." - Desire for escape and feeling lost:
"My dreams are full of what's not real / I'll fly away and save the world / I'll make you proud someday / I just won't be around to see your face."
The lyrics are introspective and hint at deep emotional pain while balancing the faint hope of making others proud, though accompanied by absence or loss25.
Musical Style
Musically, the song is emblematic of Carissa's Wierd’s signature sound:
- Slow, gentle guitar melodies
- Subtle arrangements with an emphasis on mood
- Soft, often double-tracked vocals that heighten the song's fragility and vulnerability
- A minimalist yet evocative approach that allows the emotional content to take center stage.
Reception
"So You Wanna Be a Superhero" is often cited by fans and reviewers as one of the most harrowing and personal tracks on Songs About Leaving. It is praised for its raw honesty, and the performance by vocalist Jenn Ghetto is described as "supremely eerie" and emotionally affecting26.
Legacy
Carissa's Wierd disbanded not long after the release of Songs About Leaving, but their influence has remained strong in the indie and slowcore scenes. Members went on to play in other well-known projects, such as Band of Horses and S6.
Notable Lyrics:
"I might be leaving soon
I’ll make you proud someday
I just won’t be around to see your face"
