Marianne Faithfull’s Rant
The poetry of her infamous song, “Why D’Ya Do It?”
In 1979, after years of drug abuse and homelessness, Marianne Faithful released the comeback album, Broken English. The last track on that new wave punk album—which came to be known as Faithfull’s masterstroke—was the six-and-a-half-minute song, “Why D’Ya Do It?” With lyrics adapted from a poem by Heathcote Williams, the song is essentially an explosive, expletive- and vulgarity-filled rant of a woman venting her frustrations over her lover’s unfaithfulness. Read the song’s caustic lyrics and then watch Faithfull perform it live in New York City in the 1990s.
When I stole a twig from our little nest
And gave it to a bird with nothing in her beak,
I had my balls and my brains put into a vice
And twisted around for a whole fucking week.
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you let that trash
Get a hold of your cock, get stoned on my hash?
Why’d ya do it she said, why’d you let her suck your cock?
Oh, do me a favour, don’t put me in the dark.
Why’d ya do it, she said, they’re mine all your jewels,
You just tied me to the mast of the ship of fools.
Why’d ya do it, she said, when you know it makes me sore,
’cause she had cobwebs up her fanny and I believe in giving to the poor.
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you spit on my snatch?
Are we out of love now, is this just a bad patch?
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do what you did?
You drove my ego to a really bad skid.
Why’d you do it, she said, ain’t nothing to laugh,
You just tore all our kisses right in half!
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d ya do what you did,
Betray my little oyster for such a low bitch.
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do what you did?
You drove my ego to a really bad skid.
Why’d ya do it, she screamed, after all we’ve said
Every time I see your dick I see her cunt in my bed.
The whole room was swirling,
Her lips were still curling.
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do what you did
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do what you did
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d ya do it, she said,
Why’d you do what you did?
Oh, big grey mother, I love you forever
With your barbed wire pussy and your good and bad weather.
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do what you did…
Ah, I feel better now.
