Zombie
The Goblin Market Lyrics


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Brother never has much to say
Sister Junie loves him anyway
Always was the quiet one
In the shadows of her sun

Father bears his secret shame
Tarnish on the family name
Questions burn but don't arise
Mother looks averts her eyes

What he's become you can't imagine
Oh no you can't imagine

Leaves a trail of accidents
Calls them failed experiments
Did just what the doctors said
Made himself a brand new friend

What he's become you can't imagine
Oh no you can't imagine

Suddenly gone slipped away
Once again to go astray





A minute or an hour passed
Never missed cutting the grass

Overall Meaning

The Goblin Market's "Zombie" is a haunting and dark song that delves into the story of a family affected by a mysterious and morbid figure who has undergone a questionable transformation. The lyrics deliver the tale of a brother, who is rendered silent and anonymous in the presence of his sister's light and charm. Meanwhile, their father bears a secret shame that continues to tarnish the family's reputation, while the mother looks away. The scene is filled with intense curiosity and uneasiness from the perspective of the singer, who is observing the family from an outsider's perspective.


As the story progresses, it is revealed that the brother has been conducting failed experiments on himself and has evolved into a new, terrifying entity that the others cannot imagine. He is characterized as an accidental and reckless figure who leaves a trail of destruction behind him. Nature provides an eerie backdrop for the story, with the lyrics mentioning the brother's nonchalance when it comes to mundane household tasks such as mowing the lawn. The overall atmosphere of the song is one of trepidation, as the listener is invited to reflect on the fate of the mysterious and tragic protagonist.


Line by Line Meaning

Brother never has much to say
Brother is silent and reserved


Sister Junie loves him anyway
Despite his silence, Sister Junie loves him just the same


Always was the quiet one
He always kept to himself


In the shadows of her sun
In the background of a more prominent family member


Father bears his secret shame
Father is carrying around guilt and shame about something he has done


Tarnish on the family name
Father's actions have caused damage to the reputation of the family


Questions burn but don't arise
There are unanswered questions, but no one is willing to ask them


Mother looks averts her eyes
Mother is avoiding the unpleasant truth


What he's become you can't imagine
He has changed so much, it's hard to comprehend


Leaves a trail of accidents
There are negative consequences that follow him


Calls them failed experiments
He justifies these consequences as experiments that didn't work out


Did just what the doctors said
He followed through with the advice given by professionals


Made himself a brand new friend
In the process, he created something entirely new


Suddenly gone slipped away
He disappeared without warning


Once again to go astray
He has a tendency to stray from the path


A minute or an hour passed
Time escapes without anyone noticing or keeping track


Never missed cutting the grass
Despite his erratic behavior, some things remain consistent




Contributed by Oliver R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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