Liars Tale lyrics (English Translation) – Dan Carey, KNEECAP, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Iarla Ó CaireallÁin

Chorus
This shouldn’t be accepted, there’s no good in it,
In their politics for you and me.
This shouldn’t be accepted, belly of the beast,
I’m hungry again, a Fenian overseas.

Verse 1
I’m sick of being always switched on.
How come it’s always on me
To be sorting everything? Run along, for fuck’s sake!
I’m sick of you cunts.
That’s it, I’m going off the grid, into the countryside,
To green Rath Chairn in County Meath.
If you see me on the street, there’s nothing to see.
I’m going for a chowder and a dip in the sea,
And a pint of stout—that’s a little bit of me.

Kneecap always filling the void.
All I want to do is fuck all, just chill with the boys.
But I have to go on stage, making some noise,
Doing a politician’s job, the one they’re trying to avoid.

Pre-Chorus
You’re not getting away with fuck all.
You’re not getting away with doing nothing.
We won’t forget these people.
You think we’d move on and forget what happened?

Bridge
Nah, fuck Keir Starmer, Netanyahu’s bitch and genocide armer.
Better off as compost for farmers.
Every time I watch, I cringe and I’m embarrassed.
It’ll never be, nor is it now, my mindset.
No escaping it, it’s there to be seen on your phone.
I’m not content to sit on my arse,
Twiddling my thumbs while folks lose their home.

Chorus
This shouldn’t be accepted, there’s no good in it,
In their politics for you and me.
This shouldn’t be accepted, belly of the beast,
I’m hungry again, a Fenian overseas.

Interlude
An old story, rusted over,
Sucking America’s dick,
Looking for attention and a few quid.
Oh man, you’re a silly wee…
An old story, rusted over,
Sucking America’s dick,
Looking for attention and a few quid.
Oh man, you’re a silly wee…

Verse 2
You’re nothing but a Tory dressed in Labour clothing.
Never seen a cunt so boring, with a resting face of loathing.
Personality stolen, look—a constant state of condolence.
Your face tells a story, like there’s washing to be folded.
Don’t they understand who we are?

You were popular way back when.
People did whatever they want,
Nobody stood in their way.
That’s colonial cringe.
Now we’re looking for back-pay,
Wanting
Everything back.
The six counties
And the artifacts.
We’ll be taking all that.
Look, mate,
The paddies are back,
And your kingdom is finished.
And that’s a fact.

Final Chorus
This shouldn’t be accepted, there’s no good in it,
In their politics for you and me.
This shouldn’t be accepted, belly of the beast,
I’m hungry again, a Fenian overseas.

(Repeated)

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Lyrics Meaning

This song by Kneecap is a raw, bilingual (Irish and English) burst of anti-establishment rage and post-colonial resistance. It blends personal frustration with sharp political critique, targeting hypocrisy, imperialism, and cultural erasure from a distinctly Irish republican perspective.

• Post-Colonial Anger & Identity: The song’s core is a defiant Irish republican stance. The term “Fenian overseas” reclaims a historical label for Irish rebels. The lyrics express anger at continued subservience (“Ag sú bod America” – sucking America’s dick) and a demand for reclamation (“We’ll be takin all that… The paddies are back”). It’s about rejecting a political system (“belly of the beast”) seen as inherited from colonial oppressors.

• Critique of Political Hypocrisy: The song savagely targets politicians, especially Keir Starmer (UK Labour leader), accusing him of being complicit with figures like Netanyahu and genocide. The line “Níl ionat ach tory, gléasta in Labour clothing” (You’re nothing but a Tory dressed in Labour clothing) attacks perceived betrayal and the bland, ineffectual nature of mainstream politics.

• The Artist’s Dilemma & Escape: The first verse captures the exhaustion of being a voice of protest (“I’m sick of being always switched on”). The desire to escape “off the grid” to an Irish-speaking region (Rath Chairn) contrasts with the obligation to “make noise” on stage. This highlights the tension between personal peace and political duty.

• Language as Resistance: The seamless mix of Irish and English is a political act in itself. It asserts cultural identity and makes the song partially inaccessible to those who haven’t engaged with the language, mirroring the exclusion the community has felt. Phrases like “Nach dtuigeann siad cé muid féin” (Don’t they understand who we are?) underscore this.

• Call for Accountability & Memory: The pre-chorus is a direct threat to the powerful: “You’re not getting away with fuck all… We won’t forget.” It rejects the idea that historical or ongoing injustices (colonialism, hypocrisy, inaction on homelessness) should be accepted or forgotten.

• Overall Tone: The song is intentionally abrasive, confrontational, and laced with profanity. This isn’t a polite protest song; it’s an outburst of accumulated frustration—a middle finger to systems of power, a lament for cultural loss, and a declaration of resilient identity from the margins. It’s music as a weapon of critique and cultural affirmation.