BAD WOLVES – Zombie (2018)

Bad Wolves covered The Cranberries’ anthem “Zombie” in 2018, as a tribute to the late Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018), who had written and performed the song in 1994. The cover retains the powerful anti-war message of the original but adds a heavier, modern rock edge, reflective of Bad Wolves’ style.

“In your head, they are fighting,with their tanks, and their bombs,and their guns, in your head,they are crying.“

Dolores O’Riordan

Dolores O’Riordan had planned to collaborate with Bad Wolves on their version but tragically passed away on the day she was scheduled to record with them. The band dedicated the release to her memory, with proceeds from the song going to her children. The emotional weight of this cover, coupled with its faithful yet distinct approach, helped it resonate deeply with fans, making it a commercial success. It topped charts and gained widespread acclaim for honoring the legacy of a beloved classic.

“Zombie” is one of the most iconic songs by The Cranberries, an Irish rock band. Released in 1994 as the lead single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue, the song became a powerful anthem and is known for its haunting melody and emotionally charged lyrics. It was written by Dolores O’Riordan, the band’s lead vocalist, in response to the tragic Warrington bombings of 1993, in which two young boys were killed by an IRA (Irish Republican Army) bombing in England. The song protests the violence and senseless loss of life caused by the Northern Ireland conflict, also known as The Troubles.

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 fighting With their tanks, and their bombs And their bombs, and their guns In your head, in your head they are crying In your head, in your head Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie What’s in your head, in your head Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, oh Du, du, du, du Du, du, du, du Du, du, du, du Du, du, du, du 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 fighting With their tanks, and their bombs And their bombs, and their guns In your head, in your head, they are dying In your head, in your head Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie What’s in your head, in your head Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, ay, oh, ya ya