The Cranberries hit "Zombie" was voted as Ireland's favorite song on RTÉ 2fm's Ultimate Irish Playlist in 2022 but do you know the history behind this smash hit number one.
"Zombie" was released by The Cranberries in 1994 as the lead single from the Irish rock group's second studio album "No Need to Argue." The song was written by lead singer Dolores O'Riordan as a protest against the Irish Republican Army bombing in Warrington, England in 1993.
The lyrics to "Zombie" describe the grief and anger felt by the loved ones of those killed in the bombing, with O'Riordan singing, "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."
"Zombie" was a commercial success, reaching the top ten in several countries, including Ireland, the UK, and Canada. It also reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the US, giving The Cranberries their first and only number-one hit in the country.
The success of "Zombie" helped "No Need to Argue" become one of the best-selling albums of the year, while also propelling The Cranberries to become one of the biggest bands of the 1990s. The song, one of the most recognizable from the 90s, has been covered by many artists and used in various movies and TV shows.
"Zombie" by The Cranberries is a powerful and emotional protest song and its commercial success and enduring message have made it a classic, still resonating with audiences today.
Watch the music video for "Zombie" by The Cranberries here:
The lyrics for "Zombie" by The Cranberries
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-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.
Comments