Zombie ( song ) - wikipedia Zombie ( song ) This article is about the Cranberries song. For the album and song by Fela Kuti, see Zombie ( album ). `` Zombie '' Standard artwork ( CD and vinyl edition pictured ) Single by The Cranberries from the album No Need to Argue Released 19 September 1994 Format CD VHS Recorded 1993 at Windmill Lane Studios Genre Alternative rock post-grunge Length 5 : 06 ( LP version ) 4 : 11 ( international edit ) 3.52 ( U.S. radio edit ) Label Island Songwriter ( s ) Dolores O'Riordan Producer ( s ) Stephen Street The Cranberries singles chronology `` Linger '' ( 1993 ) `` Zombie '' ( 1994 ) `` Ode to My Family '' ( 1994 ) `` Linger '' ( 1993 ) `` Zombie '' ( 1994 ) `` Ode to My Family '' ( 1994 ) Music video `` Zombie '' on YouTube Audio sample file help `` Zombie '' is a protest song by Irish rock band The Cranberries, written about the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, and in memory of two young victims, Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue ( 1994 ). It preceded the release of No Need to Argue by two weeks. The song was written by the band 's lead singer Dolores O'Riordan, and reached No. 1 on the charts in Australia, Belgium, France, Denmark and Germany. It won the `` Best Song '' award at the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band 's Something Else album. Contents 1 Composition 2 Reception 3 Track listings 4 Music video 5 Cover versions 6 Charts and sales 6.1 Weekly charts 6.2 Year - end charts 6.3 Certifications 6.4 Chart successions 7 Literature 8 References Composition The lyrics and chords of `` Zombie '' were written by Dolores O'Riordan during the Cranberries ' English Tour in 1993. The song was written in response to the death of Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry, who had been killed in the IRA bombing in Warrington earlier that year. The lyrics also reference the Irish Easter Rising with the lines : 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 '. Reception The Rough Guide to Rock identified the album No Need to Argue as `` more of the same '' as the Cranberries ' debut album, except for the song `` Zombie '', which had an `` angry grunge '' sound and `` aggressive '' lyrics. The Cranberries played the song on their appearance on the U.S. show Saturday Night Live in 1995 in a performance that British author Dave Thompson calls `` one of the most powerful performances that the show has ever seen ''. AllMusic said the song `` trivialized '' the events of the Troubles, and that the `` heavy rock trudge '' of the song did not play to the band 's strengths. Track listings This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2017 ) UK and European CD1 single No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Zombie '' ( Album version ) Dolores O'Riordan 5 : 06 2. `` Away '' ( Previously unreleased ; later included on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Clueless ) Dolores O'Riordan 2 : 39 3. `` I Do n't Need '' ( Previously unreleased ) Dolores O'Riordan Noel Hogan 3 : 31 UK and European CD2 single No. Title Length 1. `` Zombie '' ( Album version ) 5 : 06 2. `` Waltzing Back '' ( Live at the Fleadh Festival, 11 June 1994 ) 3 : 45 3. `` Linger '' ( Live at the Fleadh Festival, 11 June 1994 ) 5 : 25 UK and European 7 '' single No. Title Length 1. `` Zombie '' ( Radio edit ) 4 : 10 2. `` Away '' ( Previously unreleased ) 2 : 39 US two - track promo CD ( PRCD 6857 - 2 ) No. Title Length 1. `` Zombie '' ( Edit ) 3 : 52 2. `` Zombie '' 5 : 06 UK VHS single ( PRCD 6857 - 2 ) No. Title Length 1. `` Zombie '' ( Video version ) 5 : 11 Music video `` Zombie '' was released with a music video in October 1994. The video was directed by Samuel Bayer, and produced by Doug Friedman and H.S.I. Productions. In the video, Dolores O'Riordan is covered in gold makeup and appears in front of a cross with a group of boys also covered in gold makeup. The video also includes clips of children playing war games, and of British soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ( as evident from their thin red line tactical recognition flashes ) on patrol in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The unsuspecting troops were told that their footage was to be included in a documentary about the day - to - day operations of various peace - keeping forces. The video was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As of March 2018, the video has over 700 million views on YouTube, and is one of the 200 most viewed videos on the site. Cover versions In late 1994, a cover version by Spanish mákina group Ororo was released in conjunction with the original version. This version reached No. 1 in Spain and No. 16 in Austria. In 1995, a Eurodance cover version by Italian quartet A.D.A.M. featuring Amy reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart, No. 65 in Australia, No. 20 in France, No. 9 in Italy, and No. 35 in Belgium. In 1995, a trance cover version by Trance Opera was released in the Netherlands. In 2009, Alternative metal band Breed 77 released a cover as a bonus track on their album Insects. In 2011, Christina Parie covered the song on The X Factor Australia. After her performance, the song re-entered the ARIA Charts Top 100 at No. 69. Also in 2011, Sarah Jezebel Deva covered the song on her second solo album The Corruption of Mercy. Also in 2011, Swedish - Congolese singer - songwriter Mohombi released his song `` In Your Head '', the chorus of which interpolates `` Zombie ''. In 2017, a hardstyle cover version by Ran - D was released in the Netherlands. Eminem sampled the chorus of the song on `` In Your Head '' from his 2017 album Revival. In 2017, a mash - up of `` Wake Me Up '' by Avicii and `` Zombie '' was performed in Pitch Perfect 3. Bad Wolves released a version on January 19, 2018. O'Riordan had been scheduled to record vocals with the heavy metal group at the time of her death. The cover was released without her vocals as a tribute. Bad Wolves slightly alter the lyrics, inserting a reference to drones and replacing `` since 1916 '' with `` in 2018 ''. Charts and sales Weekly charts Chart ( 1994 -- 95 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 19 Denmark ( IFPI ) Europe ( Eurochart Hot 100 ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Iceland ( Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 5 Norway ( VG - lista ) Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) 9 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 14 US Radio Songs ( Billboard ) 22 US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 32 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) 18 Chart ( 2011 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 75 Chart ( 2012 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 55 France ( SNEP ) 95 Chart ( 2013 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 60 France ( SNEP ) 66 Chart ( 2014 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 169 Chart ( 2017 ) Peak position France ( SNEP ) 135 Chart ( 2018 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 69 France ( SNEP ) Hungary ( Single Top 40 ) 29 Ireland ( IRMA ) 11 Italy ( FIMI ) 19 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 6 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 20 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 45 US Digital Songs ( Billboard ) 13 US Billboard YouTube Songs 24 US Billboard Hot Rock Songs 5 US Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales Year - end charts Chart ( 1994 ) Position Australian Singles Chart 38 Chart ( 1995 ) Position Australian Singles Chart 7 Austrian Singles Chart 7 Belgian ( Flanders ) Singles Chart 36 Belgian ( Wallonia ) Singles Chart Dutch Top 40 41 French Singles Chart New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 17 Swiss Singles Chart 7 Certifications Region Certification Australia ( ARIA ) Platinum Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Gold Germany ( BVMI ) Platinum Italy ( FIMI ) Platinum United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold Chart successions Preceded by `` What 's the Frequency, Kenneth ? '' by R.E.M. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number - one single 29 October 1994 -- 3 December 1994 ( 6 weeks ) Succeeded by `` About a Girl ( live ) '' by Nirvana Preceded by `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow Australian number - one single 18 December 1994 -- 5 February 1995 ( 8 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Another Night '' by MC Sar & The Real McCoy Preceded by `` Tears Do n't Lie '' by Mark ' Oh German number - one single 3 February 1995 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Conquest of Paradise '' by Vangelis Preceded by `` Short Dick Man '' by 20 Fingers featuring Gillette French SNEP number - one single 4 March 1995 -- 29 April 1995 ( 9 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Pour que tu m'aimes encore '' by Céline Dion Preceded by N / A Belgian ( Wallonia ) number - one single 8 April 1995 -- 22 April 1995 ( 3 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Respect '' by Alliance Ethnik Preceded by `` Asshole '' by Denis Leary Triple J Hottest 100 Winner Succeeded by `` Wonderwall '' by Oasis Literature Fonseca A.J. `` Zombie '' ( song ) / / Encyclopedia of the Zombie : The Walking Dead in Popular Culture and Myth : The Walking Dead in Popular Culture and Myth / eds. J. Pulliam, A.J. Fonseca. -- ABC - CLIO, 2014. -- 381 p. -- ISBN 9781440803895. -- ISBN 1440803897. References Jump up ^ Dendle, Peter ( 2012 ). 2000 - 2010. McFarland. pp. 30 --. ISBN 9780786492886. Retrieved 23 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` MTV Europe Music Award Winners 1994 -- 2000 ''. Billboard ( November 10, 2001 ) : 50. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Announce New Acoustic Album Something Else, Share `` Linger '' : Listen ``. Pitchfork. March 14, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The tragedy that inspired Zombie - The Cranberries ' biggest hit ''. BBC. Jan 16, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2018. Jump up ^ Buckley, Peter ( 2003 - 11 - 01 ). The Rough Guide to Rock : the definitive guide to more than 1200 artists and bands. Rough Guides. pp. 248 --. ISBN 9781843531050. Retrieved 23 December 2012. Jump up ^ Thompson, Dave ( 2000 - 11 - 01 ). Alternative Rock : The Best Musicians and Recordings. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 294 --. ISBN 9780879306076. Retrieved 23 December 2012. Jump up ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir ; Woodstra, Chris ; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas ( 2002 ). All Music Guide to Rock : The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 263 --. ISBN 9780879306533. Retrieved 23 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World : Spain ( IFPI / Nielsen Marketing Research ) ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 107 ( 13 ) : 48. 1 April 1995. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Official Charts > A.D.A.M. feat. Amy ''. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart -- Week Ending 03 Dec 1995 ''. Imgur.com ( original document published by ARIA ). Retrieved 17 July 2017. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached. Jump up ^ `` A.D.A.M. feat. Amy -- Zombie ( song ) ''. Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 22 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Trance Opera ( 2 ) - Zombie ''. Discogs. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 11. Jump up ^ Hill, John. `` Bad Wolves release their cover of the Cranberries ' `` Zombie '' ``. Loudwire. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Hear BAD WOLVES ' ' Zombie ' Cover DOLORES O'RIORDAN Was Set To Appear On Before Death ''. Blabbermouth. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. ^ Jump up to : `` Austriancharts.at -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 60, No. 20, December 05 1994 ''. RPM. Retrieved 28 May 2011. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World : Denmark ( IFPI / Nielsen Marketing Research ) ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 107 ( 6 ) : 55. 11 February 1995. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Hits of the World : Denmark ( IFPI / Nielsen Marketing Research ) ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 107 ( 7 ) : 43. 18 February 1995. ISSN 0006 - 2510. ^ Jump up to : `` Lescharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- The Cranberries Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 ( 03.11. 1994 - 09.11. 1994 ) '' ( PDF ). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 2018 - 03 - 13. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- All there is to know ''. Irishcharts.ie. IRMA. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- The Cranberries '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Charts > Cranberries ''. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Radio Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Alternative Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Archívum -- Slágerlisták -- MAHASZ '' ( in Hungarian ). Single ( track ) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 25 January 2018. Jump up ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-singles-chart/ Jump up ^ `` Italiancharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Top Digital Download. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' Canciones Top 50. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Charts > Cranberries ''. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Digital Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018. Jump up ^ https://www.billboard.com/charts/digital-song-sales Jump up ^ https://www.billboard.com/charts/youtube Jump up ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/the-cranberries/chart-history/rock-songs Jump up ^ https://www.billboard.com/music/the-cranberries/chart-history/rock-digital-song-sales Jump up ^ `` The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994 ''. Imgur.com ( original document published by ARIA ). Retrieved 17 July 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995 ''. Imgur.com ( original document published by ARIA ). Retrieved 17 July 2017. Jump up ^ 1995 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at ( Retrieved 20 April 2008 ) Jump up ^ 1995 Belgian ( Flanders ) Singles Chart Ultratop.be Archived 30 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 20 April 2008 ) Jump up ^ 1995 Belgian ( Wallonia ) Singles Chart Ultratop.be Archived 14 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 20 April 2008 ) Jump up ^ `` Single top 100 over 1995 '' ( pdf ) ( in Dutch ). Top40. Retrieved 19 April 2010. Jump up ^ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 30 January 2009 ) Jump up ^ `` End of Year Charts 1995 ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017. Jump up ^ 1995 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 20 April 2008 ) Jump up ^ `` Austrian single certifications -- Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in German ). IFPI Austria. Enter Cranberries in the field Interpret. Enter Zombie in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( Cranberries ; ' Zombie ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Cranberries -- Zombie ''. British Phonographic Industry. Enter Zombie in the search field and then press Enter. The Cranberries Mike Hogan Noel Hogan Fergal Lawler Niall Quinn Dolores O'Riordan Studio albums Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Ca n't We ? No Need to Argue To the Faithful Departed Bury the Hatchet Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Roses Something Else EPs Anything Water Circle Nothing Left at All Uncertain Doors and Windows Compilations Treasure Box -- The Complete Sessions 1991 -- 1999 Stars : The Best of 1992 -- 2002 Gold Live albums and EPs Bualadh Bos -- The Cranberries Live Singles `` Dreams '' `` Linger '' `` Zombie '' `` Ode to My Family '' `` I Ca n't Be with You '' `` Ridiculous Thoughts '' `` Salvation '' `` Free to Decide '' `` When You 're Gone '' `` Hollywood '' `` Promises '' `` Animal Instinct '' `` Just My Imagination '' `` Analyse '' `` Time Is Ticking Out '' Promotional singles `` Sunday '' `` Dreaming My Dreams '' `` I 'm Still Remembering '' `` Copycat '' Video albums Live Beneath the Skin -- Live in Paris Stars : The Best of Videos 1992 -- 2002 Related articles Discography Radio and television sessions Mono Band Arkitekt Steve DeMarchi Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zombie_(song)&oldid=833060237 '' Categories : 1994 singles The Cranberries songs Billboard Alternative Songs number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Ultratop 50 Singles ( Flanders ) number - one singles SNEP Top Singles number - one singles Number - one singles in Germany Anti-war songs Protest songs 1990s ballads Rock ballads Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer Songs written by Dolores O'Riordan Song recordings produced by Stephen Street Island Records singles Songs about The Troubles ( Northern Ireland ) 1994 songs Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) Use British English from May 2012 Use dmy dates from May 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats Articles needing additional references from October 2017 All articles needing additional references Track listings with deprecated parameters All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 All articles that may contain original research Articles that may contain original research from March 2018 Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for Billboardradiosongs Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Hungarysingle Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for Billboarddigitalsongs Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Austria Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Nederlands Occitan Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 20 more Edit links This page was last edited on 29 March 2018, at 13 : 11. 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Question: meaning of the song zombie by bad wolves
Answer: written in response to the death of Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry, who had been killed in the IRA bombing in Warrington