Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop (Zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn (Zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think (Zombie)
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell am to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell am to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Go and die! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Put am for reverse! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Quick march!
Slow march! (Zombie)
Left turn!
Right turn! (Zombie)
About turn!
Double up! (Zombie)
Salute!
Open your hat! (Zombie)
Stand at ease!
Fall in! (Zombie)
Fall out!
Fall down! (Zombie)
Get ready!
One of Fela's most famous and incendiary songs. Totally kick-ass. My favorite moment just might be the cheeky army reveille tucked into the end.
Here are the liner notes straight from my copy of the album:
Fela in his life time was never "a good bedfellow" of the military institution. As a political activist, he believed the army should operate under the mandate of a civil government. If national interest compels the armed forces to intervene in government, the army is obliged to hand over power to a new civil government elected by the people and enjoying their mandate. To do otherwise is to usurp power particularly since a soldier's duty is not to seek a political mandate. For emphasis in the song, he narrates the military in motion comparing their orientation to the Zombie, without minds of their own. Fela paid a big price for this bold condemnation of the military institution. One thousand members of the Nigerian army attacked and burnt down his house after the release of the record. The tribunal set up to investigate the cause of the attack as a result of the public out-cry against the army, heard, as part of the evidence presented, an example of the Zombie album cover with the military uniform and boots displayed boldly. The army justification of the attack was that Fela treated the military institution with levity.
When the military attacked Fela's house, they threw his mother out of the window. She died from her injuries.
When the military attacked Fela's house, they threw his mother out of the window. She died from her injuries.
Fela repeats this in the chorus of Zombie: "joro, jara, joro"
What does that mean?
Thanks for that. This song makes me wild.
Is this really the only Fela Entry? I love this song!This and Water no get enemy. Fela has a powerful way with words- even to the American ear.
This song raises my body temperature everytime. I find myself in revolutionary hysteria in my living room, blaring this through the sound system.
Was it not after they burnt his house in response to this album that he responded by releasing Sorrow, Tears And Blood?
If anyone can retrieve the lyrics to Yellow Fever PLEASE DO.That's my all time favourite!!!
Thanks for the song,I like the song,it rises my adrenaline,when am angry or disappointed this is my song. We shouldn't stop fighting for our rights,we have them zombies still in Africa.