Song Analysis – Zombie by The Cranberries

Zombie – Lyrics

Zombie — The Cranberries

  1. Determine the subject of the poem
    1. This song was inspired by a bombing in 1993. The lead singer of the band claimed that the song speaks about the Irish fight for independence “that seems to last forever.” In the lyrics there is a line that says, “It’s the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen,” which further emphasizes the band’s point about a fight that has been going on for a long time. A metal band called Bad Wolves released a cover of the song in 2018 where they changed that line to “It’s the same old theme in 2018.” The singer wanted it to be “a song for peace, peace among England and Ireland.”
  2. Identify the poem’s narrator
    1. The band is speaking to the public about Irish independence and peace. This song was inspired by the IRA bombing in Warrington, Cheshire England in 1993. Two children were killed. The IRA is a militant group that was determined to remove British troops from Northern Ireland. 
  3. Note the diction (word choice) of the poet
    1. “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.
    2. The words are more concrete than abstract.
    3. The diction contributes to the meaning of the song by emphasizing what the band is trying to say about violence that happens in the world and how people react to it.
  4. Determine the tone of the poem
    1. The tone is serious. The band feels very strongly about this topic and they want everyone to understand their message.
    2. The tone is more aggressive in the chorus while more sad in the other verses.
  5. Determine the rhythmical devices used by the poet
    1. There are some internal rhymes, for example; “When the silence, causes violence,” and “But you see, it’s not me.”
    2. Other rhymes: first stanza, “taken” and “mistaken,” and, second stanza, “it’s not me” with “it’s not my family.”
    3. It is an open poem and the stanza lengths vary.
  6. Note the use of other literary devices
    1. Verbal Irony / Sarcasm: “But you see, it’s not me/It’s not my family.” This, I feel, is meant more sarcastically in a way that it’s supposed to make people realize that just because something bad isn’t happening to them, doesn’t mean that people should ignore an unjust event in the world.
    2. Allusion: The song makes a reference to the year 1916, the year of the IRA Easter Uprisings which ultimately led to the establishment of the Irish Republic. People were protesting and fighting for equal rights and a stop to political dishonesty in voting.
  7. Determine the values of the poem
    1. The song succeeds in communicating that a lot of people hear about what’s happening elsewhere in the world but they don’t really think too much about it because it’s not happening to them.

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