One of my all time favorite songs is "Zombie" by The Cranberries. The band members are natives of Ireland, which, when "Zombie" was written, was going through what is known as "The Troubles".
There was a lot of fighting and casualties during this time. Some political offices were being targeted. The song "Zombie" was written after two young boys were killed in a bombing. The song is about all the unnecessary deaths and fighting that had been going. "Zombie" even references the Irish revolution that started in 1916: "It's the same old theme since 1916".
I never truly understood the meaning of this song until recently, when all the protests and riots started after George Floyd's death. The part of the song that caught my attention was the reference to children and their mothers. I thought of George Floyd calling out for his mama while he was being violently detained by the police officers.
It's easy to push aside the incidents when you see them on the news. "It's not my family". But when you put yourself in the shoes of the victims and their families, the incidents become much more real.
I hope that someday in the near future, I can listen to "Zombies" and think Wow, what a great song! instead of I can't believe this is still going on in my country today. Until then, I will do my best to love and be kind to everyone.
It's easy to push aside the incidents when you see them on the news. "It's not my family". But when you put yourself in the shoes of the victims and their families, the incidents become much more real.
I hope that someday in the near future, I can listen to "Zombies" and think Wow, what a great song! instead of I can't believe this is still going on in my country today. Until then, I will do my best to love and be kind to everyone.
Here is the full song, for reference:
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
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
