zombie
Kuti Lyrics


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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)

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fela Kuti's "Zombie" are a biting commentary on the Nigerian military, who had recently been given more power by the government to suppress dissent. The repetitive nature of "Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go" emphasizes the idea that soldiers were blindly following orders without any thought for their own moral or ethical standards. The call-and-response of "Tell them to go kill...Go and quench" and other commands further shows the cult-like mentality of the soldiers.


The joro-jara-joro refrain is reportedly a military marching song, used to keep time while the soldiers marched. Kuti appropriates this pattern to build the rhythmic structure of the song, which is driven by the repeated chant of "Zombie o, zombie".


The lyrics also make reference to the soldiers being "one way", which implies they are brainwashed and cannot see the other options available to them. In a sense, they are like zombies, mindlessly following orders and wreaking havoc without any thought for the consequences of their actions.


Fela Kuti's "Zombie" was a huge hit in Nigeria, but it also brought him plenty of trouble with the government. The military felt that the song was a direct insult to them, and Kuti's compound was attacked several times by soldiers who were angered by the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Introduction to the zombie and repetition to emphasize the zombie-like behavior


Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombies don't have the ability to move or act independently, they only obey commands given to them


Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombies won't stop moving until they are commanded to stop


Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombies won't change direction until they are commanded to


Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombies don't have the ability to think or reason, they only respond to external instructions


Tell them to go straight A joro, jara, joro No break, no job, no sense A joro, jara, joro
Instructing the zombies to move forward without stopping or thinking, with a sense of urgency and lack of purpose


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)
Aggressive and senseless commands given to the zombies to carry out violent actions like killing and dying or reversing direction without any logical reason


Zombie wey na one way Joro, jara, joro
Zombies can only move in one direction and blindly follow orders given to them


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 (zombie) Order
A series of military commands given to the zombies to follow, implying a lack of individuality and free will


Dismiss
The order to end the exercise and release the zombies from their mechanical and mindless behavior


Zombie, zombie
Repetition of the title to reinforce the zombie's behavior




Lyrics © F.K.O. Music, BMG Rights Management, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kuti Fela Anikulapo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@giovannidefelice130

Man do some research

military coup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_coups_in_Nigeria#The_July_1966_coup

regime under:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon

nigeria civil war:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War

who's using violence?



All comments from YouTube:

@felakuti

Hello everyone, and thank you all for watching Fela's Zombie on the "Official Fela Youtube Channel". We seen the amount of love this song gets around the world, so from us "Thank you very much :D".We would love you to continue the Fela Express on this channel by subscribing here ► https://goo.gl/8Q1pVw Take care and everyone say "Yeah Yeah" (y)

@StreamingSunrise

the new guy at work introduced me to this. thank you, fela kuti!

@chrisgreene2405

You are a musical genius

@Horus-Lupercal

You two know Kuti passed away in '97 right?

@Emzdrav

YEAH YEAH!!!

@kartelmoneyvevo3395

Fela Kuti boss world

74 More Replies...

@ulorohgrace9585

Who’s listening in 2024!!! What a master piece. Can Nigeria be worse than it is now? 😢

@oluseyeajose-adeogun2642

I swear

@bolajiadebiyi3684

I was privileged to watch Fela perform this live. Fela was the most courageous Nigerian that ever lived.

@justhuman1722

U're so lucky ❤️😭🙇🏽‍♀️

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