"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.
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
For me all day
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now lay me down
Oh yeah
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
For me all day
Our love is like angels
Pinned down and abused
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now, lay me down
All over you all over me
Pay me now, lay me down
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
Hey hey hey
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now, lay me down, yeah yeah yeah, hey ah oh
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
For me all day
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now lay me down
Oh yeah
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
For me all day
Our love is like angels
Pinned down and abused
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now, lay me down
All over you all over me
Pay me now, lay me down
Our love is like water
Pinned down and abused
For being strange
Our love is no other
Than me alone
Hey hey hey
All over you all over me
The sun the fields the sky
I've often tried to hold the sea
The sun the fields the tide
Pay me now, lay me down, yeah yeah yeah, hey ah oh
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Zombie
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@[Kahiara:35260] Actually I think the husband passed away,
"She sang for you last night
She heard you were calling"
Many people say they have felt, heard, or seen their loved ones after they have passed.
"Don't be scared now
Close your eyes
She holds guard tonight
Go on forward no remorse
Life will take it's course"
This is said to the late husband by a third part (never named), who encourages him to pass on. Because life will eventually continue. The phrase "holds guard" refers to the ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_(ceremony) ) which is a Christian ceremony held after someone dies. Now it is usually held right after the funeral, but in most celtiic countries the wake is held before the funeral.
"She danced with you last night so you will remember
All you have shared, a lifetime."
This sentence feels as if the only thing it wants to convey is their history together, namely, husband and wife. For the rest it just refers back to the first verse.

I don't want another sorry
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2021
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I know I'm 12 years late with this reply but...
Except for the prostitute and hedonism parts, I was thinking all these same things. I think your comments are spot on.
I think that it's not a prostitute but it's not a normal or conventional relationship either and it doesn't matter what it is, it's just different. That's all we need to know.
Along with this, he is alone in the relationship and lonely and is the only one giving to keep the relationship going. His partner is more aloof about it or happy the way it is; but he's not. He wants more out of it and the "Pay" line is a question even though it's not phrased that way. It's asking "When is the payoff?" "When do I get mine?" Likely meaning love. Lay me down is not sexual either, it more of a "Let's put this relationship to rest by committing to it" or "Let's put it to rest by ending it."