Uncharacteristically, bass player Mike Mills sings lead vocals instead of Michael Stipe. Stipe reportedly felt the song didn't fit his vocal style or the band's serious image at the time, though he eventually embraced it.
It is one of the few cover songs R.E.M. included on a studio album during their I.R.S. Records era. R.E.M. - Superman
Despite its upbeat tempo, the lyrics are often interpreted as "slightly stalkerish". The protagonist believes he has X-ray vision and can "see right through" a woman to know she doesn't love her current partner, declaring he will find her even if she is "a million miles away". R.E.M. - Superman