Kneecap Hood Lyrics: Irish, Identity, and Language Power

Graffiti-style mural on a brick wall with bold “HOOD” lettering, Celtic knot motifs, Irish tricolour accents, a Belfast black taxi, barbed wire, and hip hop elements like a boombox and microphone, blending Northern Irish culture with 90s hip hop aesthetics.

Why Everyone’s Talking About Kneecap Hood Lyrics

When Belfast rap trio Kneecap dropped Hood, it wasn’t just another hip-hop track—it was a cultural flash grenade. People Googled Kneecap Hood lyrics to figure out what exactly was being shouted, snarled, and chanted in the mix of English, Irish, and slang.

So what makes Hood stand out? It’s the unapologetic code-switching into Irish (Gaeilge), the raw energy of Belfast life, and the way it takes a language some dismiss as “old-fashioned” and slams it into 21st-century soundscapes.

At Gaeilgeoir AI, we see this as gold for learners: the perfect mash-up of culture, chaos, and vocab.


Watch: Kneecap – Hood

Full Kneecap Hood Lyrics with Translations

[Tús / Intro: Móglaí Bap]
Here, tell him
Who’s the most violent person you know except Arlene
(Ha ha ha ha ha haaaa) Oh that would be you kid (ha ha ha ha) Respect

[Véarsa 1 / Verse 1: Mo Chara]
Focain caite amach arís (F**kin’ thrown out again)
Barraíocht piontaí le barraíocht snaois (Too many pints with too much snuff)
Equals a cocktail brave for unleashin’ the beast
Oíche mhór amach fuinne, at least (A big night out anyway, at least)

Troid eile, he’s beatin’ some fella
Tá an R.U.C. anseo anois [?] eile (The R.U.C. [police] are here now, another [?])
Fucked in to the back of the jeep, he falls asleep
He does it every week

[Droichead 1 / Bridge 1: Mo Chara]
Tiocfaidh ár lá (Our day will come), get the Brits out lad!
A one way ticket please I’ve lost my bus pass

[Véarsa 2 / Verse 2: Mo Chara]
Isteach san offie (Into the off-license)
He’s lookin’ some tins man
Ag cailleadh focan foighde anois man (Losing f**kin’ patience now, man)

“Keep ‘er lit ta fuck or fuckin’ fuck off” Jesus said on the cross
Two tins of Boost, 20 fegs and the fuck is still lost
Who’s next, me miss, son would you like a bag?
For your shopping, not your nose, I see your ankle tag

Fuck you curfew, dislocated eyesocket
Overnight, cop shop with two grams in his pocket
Just his reputation now he’s known for being a rocket
In his dreams 9mm loaded…

[Cúrfa / Chorus: Móglaí Bop & Mo Chara]
I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me
‘Cause I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me

[Véarsa 3 / Verse 3: Móglaí Bop]
A dog with a job, what the fuck is that?
When our poor Micky’s just sittin’ in the flat
Sippin’ on his cans and smokin’ rollies
‘Cause all the best jobs are taken by the dolies

[Véarsa 4 / Verse 4: Móglaí Bop]
Squidgy black, yeah craic, and mo spliff achan lá (Squidgy black [hash], yeah craic, and my spliff every day)
Beat the fash and the sesh, get that note off my car
Ach anois, Hector’s stash, má tá pús san áit (But now, Hector’s stash, if there’s gear in the place)
Ach ar dtús, cúpla líne, sula n-éiríonn seo aisteach (But first, a couple of lines before this gets weird)

[Droichead 1 / Bridge 1: Móglaí Bop & Mo Chara]
It’s gonna be a blood bath
It’s gonna be a blood bath
It’s gonna be a blood bath
(It’s gonna be a blood bath)

[Véarsa 5 / Verse 5: Móglaí Bop & Mo Chara]
Throw a hook, a jab and a boot
I sneak a quick toot then I fire another boot
For callin’ me a fruit
For tryna take the loot
But Billy won’t be bothering anymore hoods

‘Nois cúpla ceist (Now a couple of questions), do ya want it in your chest?
Or your knees or your head?
DJ Próvaí has the lead
You can beg, you can plead, you can tell us what we need
You can change your name
But you’re all the fuckin’ same

[Cúrfa / Chorus: Móglaí Bop & Mo Chara]
I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me
‘Cause I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me
I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me
‘Cause I’m a H – Double O – D. Low life scum, that’s what they say about me


What Is Hood All About?

Think of it like this: Hood is part riot, part diary, part stand-up comedy. The verses jump from nights out gone wrong, to political digs, to snapshots of working-class life. Beneath the chaos is a strong message: Irish isn’t just for classrooms or Gaeltacht summer schools. It’s alive, filthy, hilarious, and sharp.

When you dive into the Kneecap Hood lyrics, you’re not just listening to music—you’re entering a living, bilingual cityscape.


Irish Phrases in Hood: What They Mean

Here’s where it gets juicy for learners. The song throws in Irish phrases mid-flow, often without translation. For fans, it’s cool. For learners, it’s homework in disguise.

Below is a breakdown of some Irish lines from Hood and how they translate:

Irish Phrase / LineTranslationCultural Context
Focain caite amach arís“Thrown out again”Party chaos, someone getting ejected—again.
Oíche mhór amach“Big night out”Standard slang in Irish for a heavy session.
Tiocfaidh ár lá“Our day will come”Republican slogan turned chant; Kneecap flip it for energy.
Isteach san offie“Into the off-licence”Buying alcohol. Very Belfast context.
Cúpla líne“A couple of lines”Slang reference, often to drugs.
Má tá pús san áit“If there’s hash in the place”Mix of Irish and local slang; shows hybrid speech.

This is the magic of Kneecap: they show Irish as a living, flexible street language, not a dusty artifact.


Pronunciation: Making the Lyrics Flow

Learners often freeze when Irish pops up mid-verse. The good news? Songs like this are a cheat code for pronunciation.

Take Lúnasa (August). Spoken slowly, it’s LOO-nuh-suh. In rap? It gets shortened, bent, spat out. That’s authentic sound.

Want to sharpen your ear? Our Irish Pronunciation Guide breaks down common pitfalls and helps you copy the flow without sounding forced.


Why Kneecap Matters for Irish Learners

Kneecap aren’t teachers—they’re disruptors. But by dropping Irish into hooks and verses, they’re doing three powerful things:

  1. Normalizing Irish – Code-switching shows how people actually talk.
  2. Making it Cool – Irish becomes part of nightlife, rebellion, and identity.
  3. Giving Learners Access – You don’t need a Gaeltacht to practice; you need headphones.

That’s why searching Kneecap Hood lyrics is more than fan service. It’s an entry point into a living language.


How to Use Hood Lyrics in Your Study Routine

Here’s a five-step hack to turn the track into your personal Irish lesson:

  1. Listen once without the lyrics – just to vibe.
  2. Read the lyrics with translations – note down Irish words.
  3. Repeat lines out loud – mimic rhythm and accent.
  4. Build a flashcard deck – add slang like oíche mhór or tiocfaidh ár lá.
  5. Freestyle practice – swap in your own vocab over the beat.

With Gaeilgeoir AI, you can even paste the lyrics into the platform, generate instant vocab lists, and test yourself. It’s the kind of “study” that doesn’t feel like study at all.


Hood, Identity, and Rebellion

There’s a reason critics call Kneecap both controversial and revolutionary. Their lyrics don’t shy away from politics, nightlife, or confrontation. By mixing Irish with street slang, they reclaim space for the language in communities where it was once suppressed.

It’s like saying: Irish isn’t just for schoolteachers and textbooks—it’s for the hood too.

That’s the cultural revival in action.


From Lyrics to Learning

The Kneecap Hood lyrics are messy, wild, and full of life—exactly what language learning needs. By rapping in Irish, Kneecap turn the language from something formal into something fierce.

For learners, that’s an open invitation: pick up the words, join the rhythm, and make Irish your own.

Ready to put music into your learning toolkit? Start your journey with Gaeilgeoir AI—where culture meets AI-powered practice.

👉 Sign up here for free and bring Irish into your playlist, your vocabulary, and your daily life.

Get 25% off with code START25

Start learning Irish today!

Get 25% off. Use Promo Code: START25!