In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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 fightin'
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-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie, oh
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Another mother's breaking
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-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh oh, ya-ya
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 fightin'
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-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie, oh
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do
Another mother's breaking
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-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh oh, ya-ya
Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by jjon43, Unanimated, ncc74656m, Beery, AmberBell, Bianconero, oswinning, mimi18, MalachaiSade, vaguely
Zombie Lyrics as written by Dolores Mary O'riordan
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the use of children in the music video is key in understanding this song. I really don't put much stock into the interpretations of the track being about post-traumatic stress syndrome. There is just not enough to support this idea, whereas there is plenty to support over views.
I believe the song is about the conflict in Ireland, but it focusses on the civilian casualties. The children in the video illustrate the innocence of these victims. The line "it's not me, it's not my family" is a tragically brilliant summary of the attitude of people to war and death. I think this line is aimed mainly at the British citizens who were hardly sympathetic towards the death of Irish civilians, but may also be targeted towards some portions of the Irish community who cared little about what was going on unless they were directly affected. The lyric 'in your head they are fighting' I believe is a reference to British soldiers killing civilians (whether by accident or on purpose) the lyric is saying to the British troops - or even the British Government and the British public itself - that you are murdering these innocent civilians and justifying it by saying they are actively fighting you in the conflict, as if it is in self-defence. This idea is reinforced with the line 'it's the same old thing since 1916' the singer is suggesting that this arbitrary killing has been going on in recent memory since the Easter Rising, when over 300 civilians were killed and 2,000 wounded.
I think the 'violence causes silence' line is particularly poignant. The band seem to be saying that with all this violence and death comes no protest from the British public. They are seeing this bloodshed but are not appealing to their government to stop their actions. There is little sympathy; no-one is crying for the deaths of these innocents, it falls on deaf ears. The Irish are alone in the misery.
I think the cry of 'zombie' is directed at Britain. She is calling the British braindead for their attitude with regards to civilians. She's asking what we are thinking in allowing our government to commit these murderous acts, and why we are foolishly believing these civilians are a threat to our soldiers, when she shouts 'what's in your head'