The Same Old Theme

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.   

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