Let me explain. This song is NOT about oppression in Northern Ireland. This is simply the background to the terrorist struggle in Northern Ireland at the time, here the early 1990s. What inspired Dolores O'Riordan to write Zombie, was the death of 2 young boys, after a bombing in Warrington, England, in 1993, with a bomb in a litter bin. The bomb was planted by the Provisional IRA. This was towards the end of the troubles in Northern Ireland. What Dolores was writing about, was the senselessness of this continuing fighting, that resulted in the death of these 2 young boys. It must be understood at the outset, that the Cranberries, weren't from Northern Ireland, but from the south, the Irish Republic, Eire. The 1916, reference is to the Irish Easter Uprising, in which there was an attempt to overthrow British rule in Ireland (at the time there was no southern and northern Irish countries, and the whole of Ireland was under direct British Rule). Northern Ireland was created, after Ireland won independence, because the Protestant minority population of Ireland, were still loyal to the British Crown, which is why later Protestant terrorist groups, were called Loyalists. So counties in Northern Ireland, remained under British rule, and they had a Protestant majority, although there were a lot of Catholics living there (not far under half the population). The Catholics in Northern Ireland, were treated like second class citizens. The Northern Irish Police and their reserves, were nearly all Protestant, and starting acting in an oppressive way to the Catholic people of Northern Ireland. There were a lot of protests about it, and the Catholic population, did not trust the police. Eventually the British Army was called in, more as a neutral force. But then the Catholic, Republican side eventually saw the British Army as an occupying force. In 1916, the Irish rebellion was fought by the Irish Republican Army, the IRA. During the troubles, in Northern Ireland, after the period I''ve just described, say from the 1970s on, the Provisional IRA became active (they were founded before this). There were also Protestant terrorist organizations, like the UVF etc, who killed Catholics. So you ended up with 2 warring factions of terrorists, and during the troubles, lots of children and innocent civilians were killed. What Zombie is about, is Dolores O'Riordan is saying, in your head, you're still acting like it's 1916. In some ways this was true, and the Northern Irish troubles, were a rehash of the whole Irish struggle for independence, complicated by the fact, that the Protestant population, wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Actually, the Cranberries got criticized by some Republicans, for being naive, and anyway they weren't from Northern Ireland. This was unfair, as the song was about the stupidity of war, which ends up with children being killed. As the later peace process showed, it was possible for Catholics and Protestants to live alongside each other, with killing each other. I've tried to be as neutral as possible, taking no sides in a very complex situation.
Very well said however it should be mentioned the the British army did NOT in fact act a neutral force as u said and were also responsible for the deaths of many innocent catholics. That being said your comment was very well worded and hopefully peace will remain in the north of Ireland so we never have to experience the troubles again for our children and their children.
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. Just from your last remark “trying to stay as neutral as possible” makes me think these events are still a possible point of tension. Me being an American, I think I’ve shown how little I know of these events and how I’ve stumbled upon something unknowingly here. However ignorant or naive it may seem of me to not know the extent of these events, I really do appreciate everyone filling me in. Knowledge is a powerful tool that leads to perspective, something which many of my viewers, including you, have far more of than I when it comes to these events and this song. Thank you.
@@jenny5017 I agree. I originally wrote, after the British Army killed Catholics. However, I was trying to remain neutral, to avoid a pile on by one side. The British Army were hardly neutral.
@@stephenbarlow2493don’t worry about calling the people who oppressed and occupied the whole of Ireland for generations anything but what they are. So contrary to the concept of neutrality the British might as well be made up of exclusively hydrogen cause they don’t even have a single a neutron.
As a non musician (zero ability!) I am very much drawn into lyrics and videos and I find it interesting how often musicians appear to me to be more into the technicalities of a song rather than the emotional experience. Please don't take this as criticism it's just an observation and I wish I had your talent! As a Brit who lived through the times of the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' this song is extremely impactful. For me the bottom line is that innocent people are the one's who really suffer in conflicts often based on historical wrongs and ideology. Sorry to get heavy but I think the context of this song is important. Thankfully there is peace in Northern Ireland now thanks to the people on both sides coming together and saying no to violence. Cheers.
As has already been said it was written about an IRA bombing in Warrington,England that killed two schoolchildren….here’s what Delores said about why she wrote the song. “There were a lot of bombs going off in London and I remember this one time a child was killed when a bomb was put in a rubbish bin -- that's why there's that line in the song, 'A child is slowly taken,'" O'Riordan told Songwriting Magazine. "We were on a tour bus and I was near the location where it happened, so it really struck me hard - I was quite young, but I remember being devastated about the innocent children being pulled into that kind of thing. So I suppose that's why I was saying, 'It's not me' - that even though I'm Irish it wasn't me, I didn't do it. Because being Irish, it was quite hard, especially in the UK when there was so much tension." She told Vox magazine in 1994 that the song was written in part as a mechanism to grapple with her identity as an Irish citizen that did not support the actions of the IRA. "The IRA are not me. I'm not the IRA. The Cranberries are not the IRA. My family are not. ... When it says in the song, 'It's not me, it's not my family,' that's what I'm saying. It's not Ireland".
Thank you for kindly sharing this. In the U.S. we are certain exposed to the oppression the Irish have endured, but not taught any specific details about it.
According to an interview she wanted to be all glamorous and beautiful. Silver and gold to represent beauty but that children are screaming. The cross represented the religious conflict in Northern Ireland. I also remember reading that the gold lady and kids were from a painting. The black and white footage was random kids and soldiers in Belfast. A day in the life kind of video.
@@rulleh Henry VIII wanted to bring Ireland under control, so he took land from Irish landowners and gave it to impoverished Scots who had converted with him to his national protestantism, the foundation of the Anglican church. The Irish remained Catholic. So the nationalistic divide has always been along religious lines as well, though not motivated by spiritual motives.
@MissyGail4eva Love "linger" too! Love all their music! My favorite band of all time! But "Dreams" will be my favorite song ever until the day I run out of breath. ❤️❤️
These are the Cranberries, not students. You should take your time to hear their other songs. Read below and you will see many explanations of the song.
The Catholic Church threatened to excommunicate Delores for mocking Jesus but Delores is dressed as the Greek Goddess Eirene (Irene) the Goddess of Peace. The boys are dressed as Cupid the Roman God of Love. On the boys heads are olive branches. Eirene was often shown with an olive branch in her hand. It where we get the expression extending the olive branch meaning we come in peace. The cross I believe is meant that both the Unionist (Protestants) and the Nationalist (Catholic) are both Chirstian and they should come together in peace and love.
Read about 'The Troubles' in Wikipedia. There are probably 100 or so very good articles linked to it. I've spent a lot of time in the UK and have been to Ireland once. This is a fascinating subject, in a horrible way. I am a history nerd so I find this stuff incredibly interesrting. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That is so true and why a visit to Belfast is on my wish list. Don't feel bad about not understanding this but please learn about it.
vibed with it a ton. epic sonic material. super glad I came across your channel! Btw October Ends has done it again! ttheyir new song is a masterpiece. React to it now!
You want to be a music teacher who teaches how to play guitar for that song clean and don´t know what it´s about ??? It´s the northern Ireland conflict where many people died. And as a protest this song tells the story of 2 young boys who died in a terror act. And who still act like Zombies in the mind of the parents who had to live on hearing the death children crying in their minds. This is waht war is about. This is what the song is about. This is what music is about. This is a brutal part of Irish history. And you teach your pupils how to play it pretty.
@@estranhokonsta No the Zombies in this song are 2 dead boys still crying in the heads of their parents like zombies even years after they died. That song is refering to a IRA terror act from the 1990s where 2 young boys were killed. And symbolizes the Northern Ireland after it was split after the rest of Ireland became independent from Great Britain.
@@KimberlyKjellberg just listen to the lyrics or read the lines. "In your head ! ... Zombie..." It´s not about real zombies but those who died still living in the momories of their parents. You don´t need interpretation. Just listen to the lyrics of the song. It´s self explaining.
It might help if you looked. I mean, if you don't look at life through a lens of oppressed and oppressor that seems kind of oppressed. Dolores's look has nothing to do with Cleopatra, if that helps.
The song isn't about looking at life through the lens of oppressed and oppressor. It's about the sheer mindlessness of using historical conflicts (or even oppression) to justify never ending violence in the present. People (on both sides of the conflict in Ireland) literally dredging up battles or other events from centuries ago to validate bloodshed and sectarianism today .. or more specifically 30 years ago, when the song came out.
Well you’re not wrong. I do continuously embarrass myself on here, but I try to learn something new every day. My historical knowledge is rather centered on the portion in which I teach.
@@peachpreviewDon’t worry - I’m glad you’re open to learning. I lived in USA for a bit - and heard hardly any news about elsewhere - for me, your confusion was understandable. Keep going - you’re a really good reactor 😁👍
Let me explain. This song is NOT about oppression in Northern Ireland. This is simply the background to the terrorist struggle in Northern Ireland at the time, here the early 1990s. What inspired Dolores O'Riordan to write Zombie, was the death of 2 young boys, after a bombing in Warrington, England, in 1993, with a bomb in a litter bin. The bomb was planted by the Provisional IRA. This was towards the end of the troubles in Northern Ireland. What Dolores was writing about, was the senselessness of this continuing fighting, that resulted in the death of these 2 young boys. It must be understood at the outset, that the Cranberries, weren't from Northern Ireland, but from the south, the Irish Republic, Eire.
The 1916, reference is to the Irish Easter Uprising, in which there was an attempt to overthrow British rule in Ireland (at the time there was no southern and northern Irish countries, and the whole of Ireland was under direct British Rule). Northern Ireland was created, after Ireland won independence, because the Protestant minority population of Ireland, were still loyal to the British Crown, which is why later Protestant terrorist groups, were called Loyalists. So counties in Northern Ireland, remained under British rule, and they had a Protestant majority, although there were a lot of Catholics living there (not far under half the population). The Catholics in Northern Ireland, were treated like second class citizens. The Northern Irish Police and their reserves, were nearly all Protestant, and starting acting in an oppressive way to the Catholic people of Northern Ireland. There were a lot of protests about it, and the Catholic population, did not trust the police. Eventually the British Army was called in, more as a neutral force. But then the Catholic, Republican side eventually saw the British Army as an occupying force.
In 1916, the Irish rebellion was fought by the Irish Republican Army, the IRA. During the troubles, in Northern Ireland, after the period I''ve just described, say from the 1970s on, the Provisional IRA became active (they were founded before this). There were also Protestant terrorist organizations, like the UVF etc, who killed Catholics. So you ended up with 2 warring factions of terrorists, and during the troubles, lots of children and innocent civilians were killed.
What Zombie is about, is Dolores O'Riordan is saying, in your head, you're still acting like it's 1916. In some ways this was true, and the Northern Irish troubles, were a rehash of the whole Irish struggle for independence, complicated by the fact, that the Protestant population, wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Actually, the Cranberries got criticized by some Republicans, for being naive, and anyway they weren't from Northern Ireland. This was unfair, as the song was about the stupidity of war, which ends up with children being killed. As the later peace process showed, it was possible for Catholics and Protestants to live alongside each other, with killing each other. I've tried to be as neutral as possible, taking no sides in a very complex situation.
Very well said however it should be mentioned the the British army did NOT in fact act a neutral force as u said and were also responsible for the deaths of many innocent catholics. That being said your comment was very well worded and hopefully peace will remain in the north of Ireland so we never have to experience the troubles again for our children and their children.
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. Just from your last remark “trying to stay as neutral as possible” makes me think these events are still a possible point of tension. Me being an American, I think I’ve shown how little I know of these events and how I’ve stumbled upon something unknowingly here. However ignorant or naive it may seem of me to not know the extent of these events, I really do appreciate everyone filling me in. Knowledge is a powerful tool that leads to perspective, something which many of my viewers, including you, have far more of than I when it comes to these events and this song. Thank you.
@@peachpreview - It's very complex, with a deep-seated cultural divide going back hundreds of years, which is really what Zombie is about.
@@jenny5017 I agree. I originally wrote, after the British Army killed Catholics. However, I was trying to remain neutral, to avoid a pile on by one side. The British Army were hardly neutral.
@@stephenbarlow2493don’t worry about calling the people who oppressed and occupied the whole of Ireland for generations anything but what they are. So contrary to the concept of neutrality the British might as well be made up of exclusively hydrogen cause they don’t even have a single a neutron.
As a non musician (zero ability!) I am very much drawn into lyrics and videos and I find it interesting how often musicians appear to me to be more into the technicalities of a song rather than the emotional experience. Please don't take this as criticism it's just an observation and I wish I had your talent!
As a Brit who lived through the times of the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' this song is extremely impactful. For me the bottom line is that innocent people are the one's who really suffer in conflicts often based on historical wrongs and ideology. Sorry to get heavy but I think the context of this song is important. Thankfully there is peace in Northern Ireland now thanks to the people on both sides coming together and saying no to violence. Cheers.
As has already been said it was written about an IRA bombing in Warrington,England that killed two schoolchildren….here’s what Delores said about why she wrote the song. “There were a lot of bombs going off in London and I remember this one time a child was killed when a bomb was put in a rubbish bin -- that's why there's that line in the song, 'A child is slowly taken,'" O'Riordan told Songwriting Magazine. "We were on a tour bus and I was near the location where it happened, so it really struck me hard - I was quite young, but I remember being devastated about the innocent children being pulled into that kind of thing. So I suppose that's why I was saying, 'It's not me' - that even though I'm Irish it wasn't me, I didn't do it. Because being Irish, it was quite hard, especially in the UK when there was so much tension."
She told Vox magazine in 1994 that the song was written in part as a mechanism to grapple with her identity as an Irish citizen that did not support the actions of the IRA.
"The IRA are not me. I'm not the IRA. The Cranberries are not the IRA. My family are not. ... When it says in the song, 'It's not me, it's not my family,' that's what I'm saying. It's not Ireland".
Thank you for kindly sharing this. In the U.S. we are certain exposed to the oppression the Irish have endured, but not taught any specific details about it.
I'm sure Dolores was speaking up for all children who died in the conflict, not just those killed by the IRA. God bless all our children.
The gold lady under the cross echoes Michelabgelo's Pieta. A mother with her dead Son in her arms. Pretty on point.
According to an interview she wanted to be all glamorous and beautiful. Silver and gold to represent beauty but that children are screaming. The cross represented the religious conflict in Northern Ireland. I also remember reading that the gold lady and kids were from a painting. The black and white footage was random kids and soldiers in Belfast. A day in the life kind of video.
You’re right. I was typing at 2am.
@@rulleh Henry VIII wanted to bring Ireland under control, so he took land from Irish landowners and gave it to impoverished Scots who had converted with him to his national protestantism, the foundation of the Anglican church. The Irish remained Catholic. So the nationalistic divide has always been along religious lines as well, though not motivated by spiritual motives.
"DREAMS" is the greatest song of all time! THE CRANBERRIES FUCKING RULE!
Well, close second to 'Linger'.. _maybe,_ LoL
⋆｡♪ ᴬɳԃ ᴵ'ɱ ιɳ ʂσ ԃҽҽρ ♪⋆.
ʸσυ ƙɳσɯ ᴵ'ɱ ʂυƈԋ α 𝄢σσʅ ϝσɾ ყσυ
ʸσυ ɠσƚ ɱҽ ɯɾαρρҽԃ αɾσυɳԃ ყσυɾ 𝄢ιɳɠҽɾﾟ.࿔‧ ֶָ֢
Dᨵׁׅ ᨮ꫶ׁׅ֮ᨵׁׅυׁׅ hׁׅ֮ɑׁׅ֮᥎꫶ׁׅꫀׁׅܻ tׁׅᨵׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꫀׁׅܻtׁׅ ꪱׁׅtׁׅ ᥣׁׅ֪ꪱׁׅꪀׁׅᧁׁꫀׁׅܻꭈׁׅ?
@MissyGail4eva Love "linger" too! Love all their music! My favorite band of all time! But "Dreams" will be my favorite song ever until the day I run out of breath. ❤️❤️
@MissyGail4eva "Ode To my Family" is right up there too! ❤️
I have read that the band wanted the drums to sound like gunfire. Very appropriate in the context of the song...
These are the Cranberries, not students. You should take your time to hear their other songs. Read below and you will see many explanations of the song.
zombie was the very first thing i tought myself to play on guitar as a teenager
The Catholic Church threatened to excommunicate Delores for mocking Jesus but Delores is dressed as the Greek Goddess Eirene (Irene) the Goddess of Peace. The boys are dressed as Cupid the Roman God of Love. On the boys heads are olive branches. Eirene was often shown with an olive branch in her hand. It where we get the expression extending the olive branch meaning we come in peace. The cross I believe is meant that both the Unionist (Protestants) and the Nationalist (Catholic) are both Chirstian and they should come together in peace and love.
Read about 'The Troubles' in Wikipedia. There are probably 100 or so very good articles linked to it. I've spent a lot of time in the UK and have been to Ireland once. This is a fascinating subject, in a horrible way. I am a history nerd so I find this stuff incredibly interesrting. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That is so true and why a visit to Belfast is on my wish list. Don't feel bad about not understanding this but please learn about it.
vibed with it a ton. epic sonic material. super glad I came across your channel! Btw October Ends has done it again! ttheyir new song is a masterpiece. React to it now!
1916 was the Easter uprising in Ireland.
Yeah you could have done some research behind the song before doing the reaction, lol. 1916, look it up!
You want to be a music teacher who teaches how to play guitar for that song clean and don´t know what it´s about ??? It´s the northern Ireland conflict where many people died. And as a protest this song tells the story of 2 young boys who died in a terror act. And who still act like Zombies in the mind of the parents who had to live on hearing the death children crying in their minds. This is waht war is about. This is what the song is about. This is what music is about. This is a brutal part of Irish history. And you teach your pupils how to play it pretty.
Zombie are the fighters that put bombs that kill children because of ideologies and 100 years old events.
@@estranhokonsta No the Zombies in this song are 2 dead boys still crying in the heads of their parents like zombies even years after they died. That song is refering to a IRA terror act from the 1990s where 2 young boys were killed. And symbolizes the Northern Ireland after it was split after the rest of Ireland became independent from Great Britain.
@@belichterdonborek7593Yes it is about the terror act. But the dead boys aren’t the zombies, they had just died when the song was written.
@@KimberlyKjellberg just listen to the lyrics or read the lines. "In your head ! ... Zombie..." It´s not about real zombies but those who died still living in the momories of their parents. You don´t need interpretation. Just listen to the lyrics of the song. It´s self explaining.
Dirty kids, golden kids, screaming kids, kids fighting, kids with weapons, kids dieing, dogs eating bones that look human. Metaphors? Messages?
RIP Delores drowned in the tub in her Hotel she supposedly drank to much alcohol :(
Where is this rebirth of the Cranberries coming from? Just in the last week, this song is being suggested... Love it but where is it coming from?
What ages do you teach guitar? You said kids are liking the cranberries. I got into them around 16. I'm 29 now. So it's been a while. Zombie is gold.
Stumped? This song is about the atrocities of war & the loss of life of the innocent! R U Unstumped!
It might help if you looked. I mean, if you don't look at life through a lens of oppressed and oppressor that seems
kind of oppressed. Dolores's look has nothing to do with Cleopatra, if that helps.
The song isn't about looking at life through the lens of oppressed and oppressor. It's about the sheer mindlessness of using historical conflicts (or even oppression) to justify never ending violence in the present. People (on both sides of the conflict in Ireland) literally dredging up battles or other events from centuries ago to validate bloodshed and sectarianism today .. or more specifically 30 years ago, when the song came out.
This is when the irish republican army was terrorizing ireland. Lots of terrorizing in a warlike setting. Bad times
Miss Delores
It's Ireland for God's Sake! The IRA, 'The Troubles' as they call it. Have you no understanding of history at all? You're a teacher? Wow!
You sound like american. That explains why you dont seem to know very much about world and history. 😊
You are so ignorant about this protest song it's embarrising!
Well you’re not wrong. I do continuously embarrass myself on here, but I try to learn something new every day. My historical knowledge is rather centered on the portion in which I teach.
@@peachpreviewDon’t worry - I’m glad you’re open to learning. I lived in USA for a bit - and heard hardly any news about elsewhere - for me, your confusion was understandable. Keep going - you’re a really good reactor 😁👍
Says the stable genius who misspelled "embarrassing"...
(guess it truly _does_ take all kinds)
@@MissyGail4eva bad day? Be kind to yourself - and others. Peace