I did read the comics, as a kid. The line was originally used in Spiderman the comicbook (surprisingly accurately scripted in the movie)...I don't recall the Superman movie all that much.
In Superman, the comic, the planet was about to explode, so, in an effort to save the child, he was put in a 50's vintage spacerocket & sent to earth. The Kents, living on the land he landed on, presumably farmers, found him & raised the little freak as thier own (which they could not have). he must have saved them a ton of money, what with not needing any machinery with the Boy of Steel around and all.