New Jersey native Lauren Frawley knew she wanted to be a singer from the time she was a kindergartner. In 2015, she drew the attention of labels, management, and millions of listeners when her uploaded cover of Alessia Cara's "Here" went viral. She was 14 at the time. Subsequent covers included songs made famous by the likes of Adele and Demi Lovato. As a high school student, she dedicated time away from school to practicing piano, learning to play guitar, and working on writing songs.
After finishing high school and signing with Island Records, Frawley issued her debut single, "Hard Boy," in mid-2019. She followed it later in the year with tracks including the Beck-referencing "Losers," "Easy," and a label-issued cover of the Cranberries' "Zombie." More singles followed in 2020 and 2021, including "Knocking on My Heart," "Austin's Song," and "No One Can Fix Me," the latter of which became her biggest hit to date. During this time, Frawley was racking up co-writing credits (Hunter Hayes, Dixie D’Amelio, Tate McRae, and Icona Pop) and working with John Legend. She kicked off 2022 with the punchy "Kiss and Tell" and the wistful "If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry."
Zombie
Frawley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Child is slowly taken
When the violence, caused such silence
Who are we mistaken?
But you see, it′s not me
It's not my family
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head they are crying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
In your head what′s in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken
It's the same old theme
Since nineteen-sixteen
In your head, in your head, they′re still fighting
With their tanks, and their bombs
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are dying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
In your head what′s in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh
Frawley's song "Zombie" is a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the ongoing conflict and violence in Northern Ireland. The song begins by referencing the low-hanging head of a child who is slowly being taken, presumably by the violence that is causing so much silence. Frawley then questions who is to blame for this violence and who is being mistaken in their actions.
The chorus of the song, "In your head, in your head, they are fighting, with their tanks and their bombs and their guns," suggests that this violence is imaginary and only exists in people's minds. Frawley paints a picture of people being consumed by the conflict and unable to escape it, even in their thoughts.
The second verse refers to the breaking of another mother's heart, suggesting that the cycle of violence and conflict continues to cause pain and suffering for generations. Frawley highlights that this is not a new theme, referencing the violence that has been ongoing since 1916.
Line by Line Meaning
Another head hangs lowly
Another person is feeling defeated and dejected.
Child is slowly taken
Innocent children are being harmed and affected by the violence.
When the violence, caused such silence
The violence is so traumatizing and overwhelming that it causes people to remain silent even when they should speak up against it.
Who are we mistaken?
We have wrongly assumed that we are safe and the violence will never affect us, but we couldn't have been more wrong.
But you see, it's not me
The singer is trying to distance himself from the violence and is not responsible for it.
It's not my family
The singer's family is not involved in the violence.
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
The violence and war are happening only in our minds, yet they are affecting us and causing us pain.
With their tanks, and their bombs
The weapons of war that inflict destruction and harm.
And their bombs, and their guns
The tools of violence and destruction that lead to loss of life.
In your head, in your head they are crying
The people affected by violence are continuing to suffer even when everything seems quiet and peaceful on the surface.
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
The zombies represent the lethargy and numbness that sets in due to the constant violence and conflict.
Another mother's breaking
Another mother is feeling the pain and heartbreak of losing her child to violence.
Heart is taking over
Her emotional pain is becoming too much to bear.
We must be mistaken
We need to realize that the violence affects all of us and we are responsible for fixing the situation. We can no longer remain silent.
It's the same old theme
The violence and destruction have been continuing for too long, and they show no sign of abating anytime soon.
Since nineteen-sixteen
This theme of violence, war, and destruction has been present for over a century now.
In your head, in your head, they're still fighting
The conflicts and wars exist only in our minds and thoughts, yet they continue to harm and affect us.
In your head, in your head, they are dying
The people affected by violence are continuing to suffer even when there seems to be a lull in the fighting.
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
The zombies in our minds continue to be a symbol of the numbness and fatigue caused by the never-ending cycle of violence.
In your head what's in your head
The violence and destruction that we see and hear about every day are continually occupying our thoughts and minds.
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh
The zombies continue to dominate our thoughts and minds, and we are no longer able to separate reality from fiction.
Writer(s): Dolores Mary O'riordan
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anastasiacayne
Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence, caused such silence
Who are we mistaken?
But you see, it's not me
It's not my family
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
With their tanks, and their bombs
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head they are crying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken
It's the same old theme
Since nineteen-sixteen
In your head, in your head, they're still fighting
With their tanks, and their bombs
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are dying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ie-ie oh
@anastasiacayne
Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence, caused such silence
Who are we mistaken?
But you see, it's not me
It's not my family
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
With their tanks, and their bombs
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head they are crying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Du, du, du, du
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken
It's the same old theme
Since nineteen-sixteen
In your head, in your head, they're still fighting
With their tanks, and their bombs
And their bombs, and their guns
In your head, in your head, they are dying
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ie-ie oh
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Anastasia Cayne Thanks
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Classical commenter
@syedabdurraheem7697
I'm here from instagram.
What a voice!
@acruxgray1492
Me too 😍😍
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Samee
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Syed Abdurraheem same!