Zombie
•The Pretty Reckless Lyrics


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I'm not listening to you
I am wandering right through existance
With no purpose and no drive
'Cause in the end we're all alive, alive

Two thousand years I've been awake
Waiting for the day to shake
To all of you who've wronged me
I am, I am a zombie
Again, again you want me to fall on my head
I am, I am, I am a zombie
How low, how low, how low will you push me
To go, to go, to go, before I lie down dead

Blow the smoke right off the tube
Kiss my gentle burning bruise
I'm lost in time
And to all the people left behind
You are walking dumb and blind, blind

And two thousand years I've been awake
Waiting for the day to shake

Dear all of you who've wronged me
I am, I am a zombie
Again, again you want me to fall on my head
I am, I am, I am a zombie
How low, how low, how low will you push me
To go, to go, to go, before I lie down dead
Oh dead, Oh dead, Oh dead

To all of you who've wronged me
I am, I am a zombie
Again, again you want me to fall on my head

I am I am I am a zombie




How low, how low, how low will you push me
To go, to go, to go, before I lie down dead

Overall Meaning

The song "Zombie" by The Pretty Reckless is a powerful anthem about defiance and standing up for oneself in the face of adversity. The lyrics suggest a sense of detachment and aimlessness, as if the singer is lost in a world that offers no real meaning or purpose. However, the chorus turns this feeling of emptiness into a rallying cry, as the singer declares that they are a "zombie" who will not be pushed down by those who have wronged them. The two thousand years that are mentioned refer to a sense of timelessness or eternity, as if the singer has been awake and waiting for the chance to break free for an unfathomable length of time.


The imagery in the lyrics is dark and evocative, with references to smoking, burning bruises, and walking blindly through life. These details add to the sense of despair that the singer experiences, but they also hint at a deep-seated anger and frustration that fuels their desire to fight back. The repetition of the phrase "I am a zombie" reinforces the idea of strength through persistence, as if the singer has been worn down to the point where they feel like they are nothing more than a shell of a person, but they still refuse to give up.


Overall, "Zombie" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost, downtrodden, or underappreciated. The lyrics suggest that even in the darkest moments, there is a spark of inner strength that can be fanned into a flame of defiance.


* The song was released in 2014 as a part of the album “Going to Hell”.
* The song was written by Taylor Momsen, the lead vocalist of The Pretty Reckless.
* The song peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and at number 27 on the US Billboard Alternative chart.
* The music video for the song was directed by Danny "Clinch" Clinch and features the members of the band performing in a forest.
* The song has been certified Gold in the US.
* The song was used in the trailer for the 2014 film “Vampire Academy”.
* The song has a powerful opening riff that sets the tone for the rest of the song.
* The song's lyrics are often interpreted as a statement against conformity and oppressive social norms.
* Lead vocalist Taylor Momsen has said in interviews that the song's lyrics were inspired by her experiences dealing with the music industry.
* The song has been described as grunge-influenced, with heavy guitars and pounding drums that give the song a raw and intense energy.


Chords (as provided by Ultimate Guitar):
Verse: Em, Am, C, G
Chorus: D, Am, C, G.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm not listening to you
I refuse to pay attention to your words or commands.


I am wandering right through existance
I am aimlessly moving through life without direction or purpose.


With no purpose and no drive
I lack any motivation or ambition.


'Cause in the end we're all alive, alive
Regardless of our actions, we are all going through the motions of living.


Two thousand years I've been awake
I have been conscious and aware for an impossibly long time.


Waiting for the day to shake
Anticipating a significant event that will disrupt the norm and bring about change.


To all of you who've wronged me
Addressing those who have mistreated or harmed me.


I am, I am a zombie
I am drained of emotion and feeling, simply existing without purpose.


Again, again you want me to fall on my head
You seek to bring me down and cause me pain repeatedly.


How low, how low, how low will you push me
How much further will you push me down before I break?


To go, to go, to go, before I lie down dead
Before I completely lose my will to live and give up entirely.


Blow the smoke right off the tube
Exhaling smoke while smoking a cigarette or other substance.


Kiss my gentle burning bruise
Comfort my wounded and damaged state, despite the pain it causes me.


I'm lost in time
I am disconnected from the present and uncertain of the future.


And to all the people left behind
Addressing those who are still existing in their current state, while I have grown past that point.


You are walking dumb and blind, blind
You are unaware and unseeing, lacking knowledge or direction.


Dear all of you who've wronged me
Addressing those individuals again, with a hint of sarcasm or irony in using the term 'dear'.


Oh dead, Oh dead, Oh dead
A recognition of the potential outcome of giving up and losing all motivation and life, with repetition emphasizing its finality.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN PHILLIPS, KATO KHANDWALA, TAYLOR MOMSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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