Musicians have been concealing secret messages in their music for centuries. Take the composer Johann Sebastian Bach for example. In one of his instrumental compositions he used his music genius to spell out his name. The musical cryptogram he used became known as the BACH motif.

In modern times bands and rock musicians continue to hide messages in the lyrics of their songs.

Zombie

The song, “Zombie” was a protest song by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries. It was written by the band’s lead singer Dolores O’Riordan in memory of the two young victims, Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry, who were killed in the IRA 1993 Warrington bombings.

Rest In Peace

Lead singer Dolores O’Riordan claimed that “Zombie” spoke about:

“The Irish fight for independence that seems to last forever.”

The lyrics even say,

“It’s the same old theme since 1916.”

The Cranberries claimed they wrote “Zombie” as a…

“Song for peace, peace among England and Ireland.”

On August 31, 1994, just a few weeks after this song was released, the IRA declared a ceasefire after 25 years of conflict. In turn that led some critics of The Cranberries to wonder if the IRA was willing to call a truce so that the band wouldn’t release any more songs about them.

Who knows, but take a listen.

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 cryin’

In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey
What’s in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey, hey, oh

Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou
Dou, dou, dou, dou

Another mother’s breakin’
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, hey, hey
What’s in your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Hey, oh, ya, ya-a

And Finally….

RiP leaves you to consider the following.

Today’s dystopian and toxic world has become an arena for angry minds and some of the angriest minds in this world are having their right to free speech censored from the internet.

Clearly we are faced with growing fascism all across the free world. If you do not want to call it fascism, then just call it technocracy instead.

For instance one can cite a myriad of examples where free speech has been stifled by the administrators of the social media platforms, with the repression in almost every cases coming from the very people who once preached the loudest about respecting truth, diversity and the right to freedom of speech. 

So. The questions now posed.

Why has RiP published this song today?

What is the message this song is sending in todays pandemic obsessed world?

Who is this post aimed at today. (Clue: It’s not the IRA.)

Will the censorship obsessed Alphabet Inc understand it?

Do you?

Thanks for reading, come back soon.

Peace and tranquility.

Author: Michael W

Special thanks to

The Cranberries