I have heard a recent "rock" song that sounds like Michael Stipe from
REM with the lyrics "I can't stand to fly...its more than a (bird?)
More than a (plane?)...Heroes have the right to bleed..."  A very slow
ballad, sad even, by a male vocalist, accompanied by few or no
instruments.  Who is the artist and what CD is it on?

Hello Deacs and thank you for your question.

The song you are referring to is Superman by Five For Fighting (John
Ondrasik) and is on the CD American Town.

Five For Fighting, is, at the moment, an alias--a pen name--for
singer, pianist, guitarist, satirist and commentator John Ondrasik.
Source: Five For Fighting Website
http://www.fiveforfighting.com/bio.html


For copyright reasons I can’t post the complete lyrics of the song,
however here are a few short excerpts and below is the link to the
full lyrics.

“I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find
The better part of me

I’m more than a bird
I’m more than a plane
(..)

It may sound absurd
But don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed”
(..)

The complete lyrics can be found here:
http://www.saywhat.sphosting.com/f/fiveforfightsuperman.shtml


The song Superman is found on the CD Album “American Town” by Five For
Fighting.
It is available for online purchase for $13.98 at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004YC29/qid=1037130759/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-0823335-3630247

To hear a song sample, click here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/clipserve/B00004YC29001003/103-0823335-3630247

It is also available as a CD-Single at the Amazon website. 

Superman CD-SINGLE - Price: $12.99 

A short description of this CD Single:
“Debut Australian release from US singer/songwriter Jon Ondrasik (aka
Five For Fighting) taken from his album American Town. The title track
is featured in the TV series Dawson's Creek. Tracks, 'Superman (It's
Not Easy)', 'Superman (It's Not Easy) (Live /Acoustic)' and the
non-LP, acoustic/live tracks 'Michael Jordan' & 'American Town'.
2001.”
Source: Amazon Website
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005TSPY/qid=1037130759/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/103-0823335-3630247

Additional information that may interest you:

The meaning of the song Superman

"'Superman' is about humanity, the desire to belong, and the desperate
need--and sometime inability--to feel. Even a guy like Superman wants
to be human once in a while.”
Source: Five For Fighting Website
http://www.fiveforfighting.com/bio.html

Search Criteria: lyrics "I can't stand to fly"


I hope you find this helpful and if there is anything that I've
written that needs clarification, please ask before you rate this
answer.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

Excellent answer, and much more than I even asked for, which was
interesting to read.  However, I am most pleased with the speed of the
response - just a few hours!  Thanks for excellent and thorough work.