Yungblud Turned the Pain of Losing His Grandmother Into This Heartbreaking Track

People often see Dominic Harrison, who goes by the stage name Yungblud, as the modern Ozzy Osbourne. But despite Yungblud’s chaotic and rebellious energy, many of his songs have deep, heartbreaking stories behind them.

Yungblud’s song of loss and grief

“This song is about a very dark time in my life,” Yungblud said in an interview with Genius. “This song is about losing someone.”

According to Yungblud, the lyrics to “Zombie” stemmed from watching his grandmother die and the pain that caused him. But Yungblud didn’t want the song to be just about grief; he wanted everyone to interpret it for themselves.

Yungblud treats writing his songs like writing a diary entry, jotting down whatever he feels in the moment, regardless of whether it rhymes. For Yungblud, writing songs is a way of releasing pent-up emotions, instead of letting them fester and taking them out on the people he loves.

But despite the emotional gratification the song gave him, it still took Yungblud four years to release “Zombie.” He didn’t want the song to make him seem weak, but after several years, Yungblud realized that growing up means recognizing that vulnerability is actually a powerful choice.

Yungblud released “Zombie” as the third single off his fourth studio album, Idols. Earlier this year, on January 2, Yungblud released a new version of “Zombie” featuring the alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins. This new version was heavier and darker, blending modern rock with iconic 90s alternative music.

The Smashing Pumpkins give new sound to “Zombie.”

Yungblud also put out an acoustic version of the song “Zombie,” giving it a stripped-down sound that focuses on the impactful lyrics.

“Zombie” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Performance category, but it was Yungblud’s cover of “Changes” which won the award at the 2026 Grammys.

Yungblud has a total of four studio albums. Three of his most recent albums, Weird, Yungblud, and Idols, all reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. 

Despite being only 28 years old, Yungblud’s heartfelt lyrics hidden behind his alternative-pop sound have captured the hearts of many people.

(Photo by Mariano Regidor/Redferns)