The song was written in response to the death of Johnathan Ball, aged 3, and Tim Parry, aged 12, both of whom had been killed in the Warrington bombings, when two IRA improvised explosive devices hidden in litter bins were detonated in a shopping street in Warrington, England.
"Zombie" was released with a music video in October 1994. The video was directed by Samuel Bayer, and produced by Doug Friedman and HSI. Productions. The music video was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the heart of the Troubles with real footage, and in Dublin.
In the video, O'Riordan is covered in gold makeup and appears in front of a giant cross with a group of boys covered in silver makeup holding bows and arrows. The video also includes clips of local children playing war games, a performance by the band, and of British soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (as evident from their thin red line tactical recognition flashes) on patrol in Northern Ireland. It also features shots of various murals (IRA, UDA, UFF, UVF, Bobby Sands). In April 2020, it became the first song by an Irish group to surpass one billion views on YouTube.
"Zombie" reached No. 1 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, and Iceland, and although it did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it did reach No. 1 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. In addition, the song was voted by Australian radio Triple J listeners as No. 1 on the 1994 Triple J Hottest 100 chart. It won the Best Song Award at the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards. The accompanying music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.
In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped-down version on the band's Something Else album.
Zombie
The Cranberries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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-ie, oh
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
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-ie
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh oh, ya-ya
The Cranberries's song Zombie addresses the issue of the long-standing conflict in Northern Ireland between the predominantly Catholic Irish nationalist community and the predominantly Protestant unionist community that began in the late 1960s. The lyrics describe the aftermath of an IRA terrorist bombing in Warrington, England in 1993, which killed two children and injured dozens of people. The first verse highlights the violence and silence that follows such tragic events, and the confusion over who is truly to blame for the conflict. The chorus repeats the word "zombie" as a metaphor for the dehumanization and loss of life caused by these senseless acts of violence. The second verse brings attention to the continuing cycle of violence in Ireland, comparing it to the same old theme since 1916, when the Easter Rising marked a significant step towards Irish independence.
The song is a powerful and emotional commentary on the futility and devastation caused by political violence, and it is considered one of the most iconic songs of the 1990s. The lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O'Riordan, wrote the song's lyrics after seeing the devastating effects of the Warrington bombing on television. The song was released in 1994 and became an instant hit, earning critical acclaim and reaching the top of music charts worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Another head hangs lowly
Another person has been killed and their body is now hanging from a low hanging object.
Child is slowly taken
Another innocent child has been slowly taken away from their loved ones and is now missing or dead.
And the violence caused such silence
The people affected by the violence are now so traumatized and scared that there is a deafening silence.
Who are we mistaken?
Whoever is responsible for the violence are gravely mistaken in their actions.
But you see, it's not me
The artist is trying to distance themselves from the violence.
It's not my family
The singer is also trying to distance their family from the violence.
In your head, in your head, they are fighting
The violence is only happening in your imagination or in your memory.
With their tanks and their bombs
The violence is being carried out by powerful military forces.
And their bombs and their guns
The violence is being carried out using various weapons of destruction.
In your head, in your head, they are crying
The victims of the violence are now weeping in your thoughts or memories.
In your head, in your head
Once again, the violence is only happening in your mind.
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
The victims of the violence are like zombies, lifeless and helpless.
What's in your head, in your head?
The singer is asking what kind of violent thoughts or memories are in your head.
Do, do, do, do
Instrumental interlude.
Another mother's breaking
Another mother is experiencing heartbreak and despair over the loss of her loved one.
Heart is taking over
The intense pain and sadness of losing someone is now completely taking over that person's heart and emotions.
We must be mistaken
The people responsible for the violence must be in the wrong, they are making a mistake.
It's the same old theme
Violence and war have been happening for centuries, it is not a new problem.
Since nineteen-sixteen
The singer is referencing the year 1916, which marks the start of World War I.
In your head, in your head, they're still fighting
Even though the war may be over, there is still fighting and violence happening in your imagination or memories.
With their tanks and their bombs
Once again, the violence is being carried out by powerful military forces.
And their bombs and their guns
The violence is being carried out using various weapons of destruction.
In your head, in your head, they are dying
The victims of the violence are now dying in your thoughts or memories.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh oh, ya-ya
Instrumental outro.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dolores Mary O'Riordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alicebrus2703
Lyrics:
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
Please like so that others can find this easily.
@slowjoy9
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-ie, oh
Doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken
It's the same old theme
Since 1916
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-ie
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, ay-oh, yah yah ow
@MnMPryoBanana
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
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie
Another mother's breaking heart
Is taken over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken
It's the same old theme since 1916
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
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie
@Supernatural_technology_DNA
this song is also about alien invasion
"Abortion" is the destruction of humanity.
----------
I am alarmed about the danger of human extinction in the future.
Humanity is facing an extremely complex, Elaborate invasion.
--------------
Invasion of the earth in silence.
"Abortion" is the best way to destroy the future of humanity.
Humanity is facing a war against falsehoods that want to destroy innocent unborn children.
-----------------
No need to use starships or rockets to destroy another world!
I have a better way: Use quantum entanglement technology to control the minds of people in other worlds to destroy their unborn children.
@KishorTwist
Imagine if it was chosen as The Walking Dead's slightly modified opening credit song.
♪ They bite your heeaad, rip your heaaaad
ZO-OMBIES! ZO-OMBIES! ZO-OMBIES!
Hey-ya, hey-ya, hey-ya, hey-ya ♫
(fade)
The
Walking
Dead
@TheCranberriesTV
"We are so delighted with the news that Zombie has reached 1 Billion views on YouTube! 🎉 We are sure Dolores has a big, proud smile on her face too.
Thank you so much to all our fans around the world for supporting us over so many years.
Hopefully you are all safe and well in this bizarre time and managing to find some hope and positivity in our music." ❤️
- Fergal Lawler
@Ewelaila
Greetings from Poland!
@patrickconnors9448
Congratulations..well deserved amazing song
@ΡεμανΤαφαι
Congratulations! Greeting from Greece
@oscarsoto9512
Thanks to the cranberries and dolores for your music, greetings from honduras ❤
@metalangel3978
Congratulations The Cranberries ❤❤🎼🎵🎶🎙🎸🥁🎸
@TheCranberriesTV
Help us get Zombie to a billion views!
Achieving this milestone will make "Zombie" the first ever music video by an Irish band to reach one billion views on YouTube, taking its place in a select group of iconic rock music videos released before 2003 to hit that mark, including Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Guns N' Roses' "November Rain."
#ZombieToABillion
@013rml
Hey guys! Don't listen to these fake fans who only criticize. We are grateful to you and we must say thank you for your music. Greetings from Argentina!
@LeoEspinoza0
Ok :v
@Adam-fu6sr
I been watching this whole day 1B soon :)