Coming up behind established talent like Rejjie Snow, Gough is helping blaze a trail for Irish hip-hop internationally. Following radio support and prominent placings in high profile playlists, he’s racked up millions of streams for his 2019 EP, ‘80%’, and earned a high profile sync on the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’. This early success is doubly impressive when you consider that Gough has had to forge his own path in the industry, having had no obvious role models or industry mentors growing up in south east Ireland.
Though music was a permanent fixture at home, nobody in the family played an instrument, making Gough something of an anomaly when he picked up drums, aged six. He recalls being drawn to the instrument by a desire to replicate the rhythms of AC/DC, Green Day, The Who and the other rock bands much loved by his parents, but under the influence of his older brother Gough soon gravitated towards hip-hop. Hours were spent memorising the lyrics to Mos Def classic ‘Mathematics’, before he delved even deeper into the scene and discovered seminal records by Slum Village, J Dilla and The Roots.
As a teenager studying at Waterford’s De La Salle College, the music-obsessed Gough was out of step with his sports-loving peers, and though he played in various bands throughout school it wasn’t until he was accepted into the Cork School of Music that he finally found his tribe. Emboldened, he branched out into music production, making instrumentals intended for guest vocalists, “Kaytranada-style”. “I’d send the songs [to people] and they'd be like, ‘It's cool, but it's not really my vibe,’” he laughs at the memory. “And it got to a point then where I was like, well if it's not their vibe, maybe it's just mine. So I decided to try rapping... Let’s just say, it took me a long time to be comfortable with my own voice.”
That Gough makes no attempt to downplay his Irish accent is a big part of his appeal as a vocalist. Indeed, there’s an engaging authenticity to his easy flow, adding additional weight to his quick-witted bars. Allergic to braggadocio, he’s happiest tackling real-life encounters and anxieties in his lyrics, be that smartphone and social media addiction (‘Dear SJ’) or his experience falling foul of a bouncer on a power-trip (‘Heart Attack’).
Sonically, there’s dizzying variety within Gough’s productions. Graduating from the sample-heavy sound of 2018’s acclaimed ‘Infomercial Tape’, ‘80%’ features both brilliantly old school beats on ‘Breakfast’ and jazz-influenced understatement in the shape of ‘Dear SJ’. On recent B-side ‘Be Kind’ he delves even further into the woozier side of the latter, as inspired by contemporary names like Yussef Dayes, Kamal Williams, and Alfa Mist, as he is undisputed giants of the form, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Chet Baker.
According to Gough, future material is set to be even more diverse. Forthcoming mixtape Forever Classic is billed as 90s-inspired but with a range that reportedly extends from bossa nova to the breakbeat and Beastie Boys-influence of lead single ‘Heart Attack’. It’s this combination of creative restlessness and undeniable talent that makes Gough an exciting proposition, even if he’s far too modest himself to admit it.
Fool
Alex Gough Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but yeah you’re losing your cool
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
I’m just tryna speak the truth
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
Fuck it
thats enough for a hundred
you can buy twelve
yeah its cheaper by the dozen
yeah easy does it
hold your horses
stall it up
because my memory is fuzzy
I’ve been imagining last night for quite a while now
and now that its happened I want it all the time
woah shit
high five
yeah give me the wine
don’t drink it all before the end of the night
okay I’m lyrical before I’m political
have no interest unless its residual,
over-analytical, no sleep is typical,
on your mind like I’m topical
on the beach like its tropical
got no more to say just wanna make go (woo)
I’m just tryna speak the truth
but yeah you’re losing your cool
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
I’m just tryna speak the truth
but yeah you’re losing your cool
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
I dont
know a
single bit about you
i dont
really
have to
cause you make it very clear yeah you can save your sneer
you can ring my phone if you need me to hear
so shut your mouth baby
you don’t know baby
grow your ass up
ill call you by your name maybe
yeah don’t be so flakey
and thats a reference baby
yeah i wrote this song for you
maybe a thanks would be cool
okay you’re doing your best
ill show some respect
keep your ears open when i speak with my chest
keep it on your watch if you forgot what i said
if you forgot what i meant i won’t say it again
okay I’m not one to repeat myself
let alone cheat myself
if I’m honest, open, pretty vocal, keep it local
and yeah you know I’m trine speak the truth but yeah you’re losing your shit
better not speak if you speak like (beep)
I’m just tryna speak the truth
but yeah you’re losing your cool
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
I’m just tryna speak the truth
but yeah you’re losing your cool
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
get your education kid stay in school
okay stay in your lane
yeah just play by the rules
In Alex Gough's song, "FOOL," the lyrics revolve around the singer's attempt to convey the truth without the other person losing their cool. The singer encourages the person to remain calm and get an education by staying in school. The lyrics also tell the listener to play by the rules and stay in their lane. The refrain emphasizes this point by repeating it twice, emphasizing its importance. The song's chorus also contains a warning about how acting foolishly can lead to negative consequences.
Throughout the song, Gough presents himself as insightful and well-informed, urging listeners to be mature and thoughtful. The song's lyrics also suggest that the listener is stubborn and unwilling to listen, causing frustration for the singer. Overall, the song is about pursuing the truth with both an intellectual and emotional mindset, recognizing that communication can be difficult when someone is losing their cool. It is a plea for maturity and understanding in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m just tryna speak the truth
The singer is attempting to convey the truth.
but yeah you’re losing your cool
The listener is becoming agitated and emotional.
Please just keep it quiet man you’re acting the fool
The listener is behaving foolishly and should calm down.
get your education kid stay in school
The artist is advising the listener to prioritize education.
okay stay in your lane
The listener should focus on their own goals and not interfere with others.
yeah just play by the rules
Follow societal expectations and obey the law.
Fuck it
An expression of frustration or disregard.
thats enough for a hundred
An ambiguous statement that may signify frustration or satisfaction.
you can buy twelve
A reference to the idea that buying in bulk is more cost-effective.
yeah its cheaper by the dozen
A play on words referencing the movie 'Cheaper by the Dozen'.
yeah easy does it
Take things slow and steady.
hold your horses
Calm down and wait patiently.
stall it up because my memory is fuzzy
Delay the situation, as the singer is unsure of their own recollection.
I’ve been imagining last night for quite a while now
The singer is replaying a recent experience in their mind.
and now that its happened I want it all the time
The singer desires to repeat their enjoyable experience.
woah shit
An exclamatory phrase of surprise or excitement.
high five
A gesture of congratulations or celebration.
yeah give me the wine
Request for alcohol.
don’t drink it all before the end of the night
A request to conserve alcohol or drink moderately.
okay I’m lyrical before I’m political
The artist prioritizes artistic expression over political views.
have no interest unless its residual
The artist is only interested in experiences that leave a lasting impact.
over-analytical, no sleep is typical
The artist has a tendency to overthink and may suffer from insomnia.
on your mind like I’m topical
The singer is regularly and persistently on the listener's mind.
on the beach like its tropical
The artist is enjoying a relaxing tropical atmosphere.
got no more to say just wanna make go (woo)
The singer has exhausted their speech and is now seeking excitement.
I dont
The singer does not have knowledge of information about the listener.
know a
Continuation of the previous statement.
single bit about you
The artist does not know anything about the listener's life.
i dont
Continuation of the previous statement.
really
Emphasis on the previous statement.
have to
The singer does not need to know about the listener's life.
cause you make it very clear yeah you can save your sneer
The listener's negative attitude makes the artist uncomfortable.
you can ring my phone if you need me to hear
The artist is open to communication if the listener needs it.
so shut your mouth baby
The listener needs to stop speaking.
you don’t know baby
The listener does not have knowledge or understanding of the situation.
grow your ass up
The listener needs to mature and behave appropriately.
ill call you by your name maybe
The singer may refer to the listener using their actual name if they behave appropriately.
yeah don’t be so flakey
The listener should not be unreliable or inconsistent.
and thats a reference baby
The singer has made a reference to something.
yeah i wrote this song for you
The song's intended recipient is the listener.
maybe a thanks would be cool
The artist would appreciate appreciation from the listener.
okay you’re doing your best
The listener is trying their hardest.
ill show some respect
The singer will treat the listener with dignity and kindness.
keep your ears open when i speak with my chest
The listener should pay attention and listen intently.
keep it on your watch if you forgot what i said
The listener should remember the artist's words.
if you forgot what i meant i won’t say it again
The artist will not repeat themselves if they have already explained something once.
okay I’m not one to repeat myself
The singer does not like to unnecessarily reiterate their words.
let alone cheat myself
The artist is dedicated to honesty and will not deceive themselves.
if I’m honest, open, pretty vocal, keep it local
The singer is committed to being candid, communicative, and humble.
and yeah you know I’m trine speak the truth but yeah you’re losing your shit
The singer is attempting to relay the truth while the listener becomes increasingly agitated.
better not speak if you speak like (beep)
The listener's speech or behavior is unacceptable and should change.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alex Gough
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind