Lois Lane's Distance to The Sky

She walks out of the cafe, peering to the sky. Her head titled up as if she is looking or hoping for something. Unfortunately, it is a grey day with a downpour of rain. We see others running by; the news continues, and business carries on. Lois Lane walks through the downpour with her umbrella to his monument. As she delivers a drink to a sitting police officer, we find this is her daily routine. Hence, the world has moved on, but Lois has not.

Zack Snyder is always unique with his musical selection for films. Many directors always have a distinct sound, composer, genre, or even an era of music they like to use. Snyder's preference is not always standard and has its reasons. The song in use for Lois Lane's walk through the rain is 'Distant Sky' by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. A song from the 2016 album - Skeleton Tree.

Let us go now, my one true love

Call the gasman, cut the power out

We can set out, we can set out for the distant skies

Watch the sun, watch it rising in your eyes

Let us go now, my darling companion

Set out for the distant skies

See the sun, see it rising

See it rising, rising in your eyes

Now each verse is sung by a different person. Nick Cave sings the first, and Else Torp sings the second. Grant you, these two performers are not a couple. When you take in the lyrics and contextualize them, one can easily assume the two are together. Notice the similarities in these first two verses. Nick Cave and Else Torp both talk about leaving with their significant other. Both of them speak of going to the distant sky. Now we can interpret this in two ways.

First, the lyrics and tone of the song sound somber yet peaceful. Let us imagine for a moment that both singers are in a romantic relationship. Nick Cave sets the idea of death when he sings, 'Call the gasman, cut the power out.' Two lovers plan to die together and then set out for the distant sky - heaven. On average, couples do not embrace together. Most of the time, one dies before the other unless both are involved in an unfortunate accident/event. We like to think our lover will be there with us as we leave life, for the idea of dying alone sounds mortifying. People, in general, romanticize the idea of dying peacefully with their significant other in bed, even though in our minds, we know that probably will not be the case. Lois Lane is still grieving and missed her chance in a sense to set out to the distant sky with her lover, Clark Kent.

Another reading is something more literal and timely. Remember the flight Superman and Lois Lane have in Richard Donner's Superman? Today, people uphold that scene as charming, beautifully wonderful, and romantic. Yes, Zack Snyder has no similar moment in Man of Steel or Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Every flight Superman and Lois share is when he is rescuing her from a high drop. Who is to say the two share no moment like this off-screen in this universe? Fans can certainly dream. Hence, the song speaks to Superman and Lois literally heading towards the distant sky for a majestic time together.

They told us our gods would outlive us

They told us our dreams would outlive us

They told us our gods would outlive us

But they lied

Zack Snyder turns characters such as Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and especially Superman into mythological gods in his universe. You have the Christ allegories and symbolism in Man of Steel. Lex Luthor pushes his hatred for God onto Superman. We see all of this culminate with the death of Superman, in a fashion similar to the crucifixion of Christ. How can Lois Lane, let alone even ourselves, believe the idea that we may outlive Superman? With God or Superman in this sense, most people feel rudderless in navigating this world of ours. In times of despair, some people will lash out at God or lose faith.

Several times in the song, they sing, 'see the sun rising.' We sometimes like to equate the sun with Superman. He derives his powers from the sun's light and radiation. A deeper reason is that we think of the sunrise as the start of something new, fresh, and hopeful. Remember what Superman says the S stands for in Man of Steel - hope. Recall the saying of 'The night is darkest just before the dawn.' With the loss of Superman and the arrival of Steppenwolf, we are upon that darkest night. Lois Lane has no reason to believe Superman will return this early in the film. However, with a plan and through 'faith' as Batman says, we will see the sun rising, we will have hope.

Now Nick Cave's album was in production during the untimely death of his son. Fans and critics can tell this has an impact on the album. However, no one can be precise in which songs predate his son's death and which came after. Therefore, we can read the 'sun rising' as his son rising to heaven. Zack Snyder confirms that Lois Lane is pregnant with their future son, Bruce. In the context of the scene, Superman will not see the rising of their son, which Snyder plans to make into the future Batman. Lois feels this is not for her eyes, the notion of raising a son without his father. Therefore, we see her trouble and pain in moving on.

On one final note, I feel that Lois feels distant to the sky now as well, as odd as that may sound. No doubt, the sky is miles and miles above us. Yet, with Superman flying through that sky we feel that enormous distance above us is a only stone's throw away. Although far above us, we know Superman is there for us.