This was inspired by the March 20, 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, Cheshire, England. Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, two children, were killed. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) is a militant group dedicated to driving British troops out of Northern Ireland.
Dolores O'Riordan, the band's lead singer, stated that "Zombie" is about "the Irish fight for independence that seems to last forever." "It's the same old theme since 1916," the lyrics say.
The Cranberries claim they wrote "Zombie" to be a "song for peace, peace among England and Ireland," similar to Yeats, Heaney, and U2.
When Dolores O'Riordan died on the day she was supposed to record her vocals for the Bad Wolves cover, there was a huge backstage debate involving the metal band's manager and record label over whether or not the track should still be released.
"We were on the verge of putting the song on hold. We had no idea what to do with it."
The group decided that the best course of action would be to release the cover and donate the proceeds to O'Riordan's three children. "That's how we attempted to make a positive situation out of a tragic one."
The cover was released the same week as O'Riordan's death and became a huge success after a slow start, giving Bad Wolves their first Hot 100 entry.
Lyrics
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 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