"Zombie" is about the ethno-political conflict in Ireland. This is obvious if you know anything of the singer (Dolores O'Riordan)'s Irish heritage and understood the "1916" Easter Rising reference.
"Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
-
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over"
Laments the Warrington bomb attacks in which two children were fatally injured on March 23rd, 1993. Twelve year old Tim Parry was taken off life support with permission from his mother after five days in the hospital, virtually braindead.
"But you see it's not me
It's not my family"
References how people who are not directly involved with the violence feel about it. They are "zombies" without sympathy who refuse to take action while others suffer.
Please believe me, I will never be untrue
And don't believe the jealous lies they told to you
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
Now don't you know I love you more than I can say
And it would mean my life if you should run away
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
You just won't listen to my pleas
You want me beggin' on my knees
So sit right down and listen while I beg , you see
I'll never be untrue, so please believe in me
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
And don't believe the jealous lies they told to you
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
Now don't you know I love you more than I can say
And it would mean my life if you should run away
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
You just won't listen to my pleas
You want me beggin' on my knees
So sit right down and listen while I beg , you see
I'll never be untrue, so please believe in me
Oh no, don't go, don't make this poor boy cry
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
I'll be true, I beg of you, don't say goodbye
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