Why The Lullaby for Aquaman?

Zack Snyder's Justice League has an almost perplexing scene to many viewers. Right away, many bemoan the scene due to their ignorance. When something makes no sense to a critic, they label it stupid; due to their lack of understanding. We must understand Zack Snyder has some reasoning for this moment and this piece of music.

This musical piece in question is Vísur Vatnsenda-Rósu, an Icelandic poem written by Rósa Guðmundsdóttir in the nineteenth century.

A century later composer, Jón Ásgeirsson, arranges it into a lullaby. Icelandic singer Björk brings it to a larger audience with her song in 1994. The poet's history herself is unclear, especially regarding her influence on her work here. The legend goes Rósa fell in love with a man she worked for as a servant. Yet, the man was already married, and Rósa was a teenager. Again, these are stories - not much concrete history is on the books for Rósa Guðmundsdóttir.

The song is about a young girl who wishes she never fell in love with a young man. Yet, he leaves, causing her heart to break and regretting she ever met him. Throughout the ages with ever-changing language, verses are re-ordered and sometimes translated differently. In the song, they speak highly of this man, especially his good looks. An English translation of the second verse goes...

A long time ago I saw him,

He was truly beautiful,

All that could adorn one man,

Most of the people carried him.

We have no clear marker in Zack Snyder's Justice League in how long Arthur Curry, the Aquaman, has been coming to this village. No doubt, he did not show up yesterday, so they have a history together. Browse through enough articles, blogs, and so forth to find them calling Jason Momoa the sexiest man alive. Stories say the Aquaman brings fish to this village during the winter to keep them from starving. We see how in return, the village claims ignorance of the legendary Aquaman to any strangers.

I am the most sad of men

Tired of tears flooding,

Oh, that we had never seen each other,

Dear good friend.

A common feature throughout Zack Snyder's DCEU is this notion of these characters as gods, Superman and Wonder Woman especially. Arthur Curry fits this model as well. He is born of two races, one being from Atlantis, blessing him with powers. He then uses these powers to help people. We see Arthur's rugged attitude through Zack Snyder's Justice League. One cannot be for sure, but we can only assume he acts rather icy towards the villagers. There is no speaking with other villagers, especially the women. Hence, the women have met him in the basic sense but do not know him intimately. Arthur gives no inclination of letting people into his life. He rejects Bruce Wayne's offer and even scoffs at his fellow Atlanteans. Arthur comes into these women's lives, helping them, but that is it. He always has to leave, never getting to know them, nor let them know him. Hence, it hurts every time he returns to the sea.

I did not look like anyone like him

Alms move the heart.

One god knows I loved him

Of all the field of my heart.

The first line holds some significance. All of the village women are plain, drab people. Many critics even bemoan the lead singer of the group as creepy looking. Lyrics as these play further into the scene and meaning. Women as such may even think of themselves too lowly for someone like Jason Momoa's Aquaman.

Go back and recall the song is a lullaby. Traditionally we think of lullabies as songs to put babies to sleep in their cribs. No doubt they are, but in general, lullabies have a soothing ambiance to them, which even adults can find almost therapeutic. The women villagers are using this song to soothe themselves over Arthur's departure.

Strangely, the song does not fade out at the end of this scene. Instead, the song continues into Marta Kent's mourning before finally fading out. Yes, the song is about a young woman in love with a man. Yet, Martha is still having trouble bidding farewell to the boy she loves. No doubt one is romantic love and the other parental love, but love is love. Martha met Clark as a child - she did not deliver him. Much like how in the song, she met this man. The man is spoken high of - there is no other man like him. One can apply the same to Clark when Martha met him - there was no other child like him.

In the end, the song is meant to convey sadness, grief, and loss. Which it does in spades, rather you speak the native tongue of Iceland or not. On a final note, many critics (mainly men) complain about the young woman sniffing Arthur's sweater. Odd, perhaps, but how is this any different from a guy sniffing a woman's panties? Plus, it is Jason Momoa, many women would probably love this opportunity.

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