The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Fela had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. Kuti was severely beaten, and his elderly mother was thrown from a window, causing fatal injuries. Soon after Kuti's mother had been injured, the commanding officer defecated on the elderly woman's face. The Kalakuta Republic was burned, and Kuti's studio, instruments, and master tapes were destroyed. Kuti claimed that he would have been killed if it were not for the intervention of a commanding officer as he was being beaten. Kuti's response to the attack was to deliver his mother's coffin to the main army barrack in Lagos and write two songs, "Coffin for Head of State" and "Unknown Soldier", referencing the official inquiry that claimed the commune had been destroyed by an unknown soldier.
Kuti and his band then took residence in Crossroads Hotel as the Shrine had been destroyed along with his commune. In 1978 Kuti married 27 women, many of whom were his dancers, composers, and singers to mark the anniversary of the attack on the Kalakuta Republic. Later, he was to adopt a rotation system of keeping only twelve simultaneous wives. The year was also marked by two notorious concerts, the first in Accra in which riots broke out during the song "Zombie," which led to Kuti being banned from entering Ghana. The second was at the Berlin Jazz Festival after which most of Kuti's musicians deserted him, due to rumors that Kuti was planning to use the entirety of the proceeds to fund his presidential campaign.
Tracks 3 & 4 (Previously Unreleased): Live At The Berlin Jazz Festival - 1978
Zombie
Fela Kuti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Tell them to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell 'em to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell them to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Uh-huh
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Halt (zombie)
Order
Whoa
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Halt
Order
One more time, everybody
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Halt
Order
Dismiss
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
The song 'Zombie' by Fela Kuti is a satirical attack on the Nigerian military regime of the time. The use of the term “zombie” refers to the soldiers as mindless beings, who simply obey orders without questioning them. The repetition of the phrase “zombie no go…” emphasizes the lack of agency of the soldiers, who are portrayed as having no ability to think, turn or stop unless ordered to do so. The percussion-heavy track, with its hypnotic rhythm and relentless beat, serves to underscore the idea that the soldiers are in a trance-like state.
The chorus also includes the lines “tell them to go kill”, “tell them to go die”, and “tell them to go quench”, alluding to the deployment of the soldiers to suppress and violently quell any form of dissent. The song is a warning against the dangers of blind obedience to authority and the ease with which people can be manipulated into committing acts of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
The zombies are coming and they are obedient to their master.
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombies do not move unless their master commands them to do so.
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombies keep moving and do not stop unless their master commands them to do so.
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombies will keep moving straight unless their master guides them in a different direction.
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombies are mindless and will not use their own judgment unless their master directs them.
Tell them to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
The master orders the zombies to move forward in an unthinking manner.
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
The zombies do not take breaks or think for themselves, they simply follow orders like automatons.
Tell 'em to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
The master commands the zombies to attack and kill without any concern for the consequences.
Tell them to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
The master orders the zombies to satisfy their thirst for killing and destruction.
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
The master commands the zombies to attack and take lives.
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
The zombies are expendable and can die as they have no independent thought or consciousness worth preserving.
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
The master orders the zombies to attack in a different direction.
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
The zombies only know one way, which is to follow their master's commands without questioning.
Attention (zombie), quick march
The master orders the zombies to move quickly and precisely.
Slow march (zombie), left turn
The master orders the zombies to move at a slower pace, and turn in a particular direction.
Right turn (zombie), about turn
The master orders the zombies to turn in specific directions in order to execute a particular attack.
Double up (zombie), salute
The master orders the zombies to increase their speed and pay their respects by saluting.
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
The master orders the zombies to remove their helmets and stand at ease, waiting for the next command.
Fall in (zombie), fall out
The master orders the zombies to line up and then disperse.
Fall down (zombie), get ready
The master orders the zombies to get into position to perform a certain action.
Halt (zombie)
The master orders the zombies to stop in their tracks.
Order
The master gives a new command to the zombies.
Dismiss
The master calls off the attack, and tells the zombies to go back to their starting position.
Zombie, zombie
A repeating refrain to reinforce the idea of the mindless, obedient zombies.
Lyrics © F.K.O. Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kuti Fela Anikulapo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind