Released: July 5, 1999

Songwriter: Noel Hogan Dolores O’Riordan

Producer: Benedict Fenner

[Verse 1]
Suddenly, something has happened to me
As I was having my cup of tea
Suddenly, I was feeling depressed
I was utterly and totally stressed
Do you know you made me cry? (Woah-oh)
Do you know you made me die?

[Pre-Chorus]
And the thing that gets to me (Thing that gets to me)
Is you'll never really see (Is you'll never really see)
And the thing that freaks me out (The thing that freaks me out)
Is I'll always be in doubt (Always be in doubt)

[Chorus]
It is a lovely thing that we have
It is a lovely thing that we
It is a lovely thing
The animal
The animal instinct
(Whoo-huu-hu, whoo-huu-hu, whoo-huu-hu-uhh)

[Verse 2]
So take my hands and come with me
We will change reality
So take my hands and we will pray
They won't take you away
They will never make me cry, no (Oh)
They will never make me die

[Pre-Chorus]
And the thing that gets to me (Thing that gets to me)
Is you'll never really see (Is you'll never really see)
And the thing that freaks me out (The thing that freaks me out)
Is I'll always be in doubt (Always be in doubt)

[Outro]
The animal, the animal, the animal instinct in me
It's the animal, the animal, the animal instinct in me
It's the animal, it's the animal, it's the animal instinct in me
It's the animal, it's the animal, it's the animal instinct in me
The animal, the animal, the animal instinct in me
It's the animal, it's the animal, it's the animal instinct in me

The Cranberries

The Cranberries were an Irish band who found major international success throughout the 1990s as a part of the alternative rock movement. The group’s lineup included Dolores O'Riordan (singer and songwriter), Noel Hogan (guitarist and songwriter), Mike Hogan (bassist) and Fergal Lawler (drummer). Originally formed in 1989 under the name The Cranberry Saw Us, the band released an independent EP in 1991 that caught the attention of the industry. SPIN Magazine described the band’s sound as “dreamy swirl pop, midway between The Smiths and the Cocteau Twins cradling the will-o’-the-wispy vocals of Dolores O’Riordan.”

In 1992, the band began recording their first album for Island Records with Stephen Street, a producer best known for working with The Smiths. Their debut, Everybody Else is Doing It So Why Can’t We?, was initially ignored when released in early 1993, and it wasn’t until that fall—after the band opened for Suede and Duran Duran on their US tours—that MTV picked up on their single “Linger”. The song eventually peaked at #4 on the US Pop chart in 1994, and the album sold five million copies. Success around the world followed.

Later that year, the band released their sophomore album No Need To Argue, which went on to sell 7 million copies in the US. The lead single, “Zombie,” was a departure from the wistful love songs the band was known for, showcasing aggressive distorted guitars and a bold political message. The song was an immediate smash, hitting at #1 in several countries and topping the US Modern Rock chart. The follow-up single “Ode To My Family,” was a top 40 hit as well.