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 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 Music video 4 Track listings 5 Charts and sales 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 5.3 Certifications 6 Cover versions 7 References 8 Bibliography 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 dying '. 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. 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 July 2018, the video has over 740 million views on YouTube. 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 Charts and sales Weekly charts Chart ( 1994 -- 1995 ) 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 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 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 Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) 10 Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 6 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 20 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 45 US Digital Songs ( Billboard ) 13 US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 5 Year - end charts Chart ( 1994 ) Position Australia ( ARIA ) 38 Chart ( 1995 ) Position Australia ( ARIA ) 7 Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 7 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 36 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) France ( SNEP ) Netherland ( Dutch Top 40 ) 41 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 17 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 7 Certifications Region Certification Australia ( ARIA ) Platinum Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Gold Canada ( Music Canada ) Gold Germany ( BVMI ) Platinum Italy ( FIMI ) Platinum United Kingdom ( BPI ) Gold United States ( RIAA ) Gold 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 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. 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 altered the lyrics, inserting a reference to drones and replacing `` since 1916 '' with `` in 2018 ''. The band 's cover topped the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in May 2018 for three weeks. It peaked at No. 54 on the Hot 100. In June 2018, at a concert in New York City, Bad Wolves donated $250,000 to O'Riordan's children. 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 ^ `` 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 RPM Singles : Issue 2676. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 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 -- Search Results -- Zombie ''. Irish Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- week 52, 1994 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40 Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. 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 Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. 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 ^ `` Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Italiancharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Top Digital Download. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Spanishcharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie '' Canciones Top 50. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Cranberries -- Zombie ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Digital Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Cranberries Chart History ( Hot Rock Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2018. 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 ^ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. ( Retrieved 30 January 2009 ) Jump up ^ `` Single top 100 over 1995 '' ( pdf ) ( in Dutch ). Top40. Retrieved 19 April 2010. 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 ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Bad Wolves -- Zombie ''. Music Canada. 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. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter Zombie in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Bad Wolves -- Zombie ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH 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 ^ Hill, John. `` Bad Wolves release their cover of the Cranberries ' `` Zombie '' ``. Loudwire. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 19. ^ Jump up to : `` Hear BAD WOLVES ' ' Zombie ' Cover DOLORES O'RIORDAN Was Set To Appear On Before Death ''. Blabbermouth. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ Rutherford, Kevin ( 2 May 2018 ). `` Bad Wolves ' Cover of The Cranberries ' ' Zombie ' Hits No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Songs Chart ''. Billboard. Retrieved 26 May 2018. Jump up ^ https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8462004/bad-wolves-donate-250000-to-dolores-oriordans-children-after-zombie-cover Bibliography 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. hide 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=850442016 '' 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 Billboard Mainstream Rock number - one singles 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 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 Articles needing additional references from October 2017 All articles needing additional references Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardradiosongs Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Hungarysingle Singlechart usages for Ireland4 Singlechart usages for Italy Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Spain Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for Billboarddigitalsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Austria Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States 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 15 July 2018, at 22 : 12 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the song zombie by bad wolves about
Answer: about the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, and in memory of two young victims, Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry