Welcome AtoZ-ers and other blog friends! This month I'm participating in the AtoZ blogging challenge, and you'll see a post every day (except Sundays) about one of the Songs of my Heart. Today's edition: Zombie by the Cranberries. (If my embedded video won't work, you can listen at this link).
This is one of those songs that blew me away when I first heard it. The versatility of Dolores O'Riordan's voice, going from quiet sweetness to angry growling to hiccuping accusation against that AMAZING base line. I've heard more Irish musicians since, but when this song was new, I had only hear folk ballad kinds of Irish music. I didn't even know what the song meant at first, but it pulled at something in me and made me want to stand up and fight.
I've since learned more about the historical events she's referencing, the bombings in Ireland, and my personal belief is that the "zombies" are us--the people who know and don't do anything, who follow orders blindly. Which makes it a cogent song all over again, in my own country this time.
lyrics from AtoZ:
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 cryin'
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey, hey, oh
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Another mother's breakin'
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 fightin'
With their tanks and their bombs
And their bombs and their guns
In your head, in your head
They are dyin'
In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey
What's in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Hey, oh, ya, ya-a
Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
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I didn’t actually know the song by the title, but the refrain made me realise it was familiar. Unfortunately it does raise current day concerns around the world.
ReplyDeletehttps://cassmobfamilyhistory.com
It felt a little too apropros for comfort to me this time around, too.
DeleteI love this song and get it stuck in my head all the time. I can picture singing it with my friends when we were younger, just having fun messing with our voices (not that we sounded good, haha)
ReplyDelete- Allison
https://lightningflashwriting.blogspot.com/
I remember how catchy it was when it was new.
DeleteThey still play this a lot on local radio. It hit differently when I heard of her death. Still a powerful song.
ReplyDeleteI was so sad to hear of her death.
DeleteSung with total commitment. Good one to end this year's A2Z, Samantha.
ReplyDeleteThe commitment is what really sells it, I think. You can feel the passion.
DeleteA terrific song, and a heartbreaking commentary on The Troubles.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking is just right.
DeleteA great song about sad events that always seem to repeat.
ReplyDeleteWe never learn, do we?
DeleteOh, this is such an amazing and moving song. Great finish to the alphabet!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It did make a powerful finish, didn't it?
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