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”, from Marianne Faithfull’s 1979 album Broken English has been described as one of the most honest “love” songs ever written or recorded, an unrelenting, and utterly unself-conscious tirade of abuse, betrayal and anger aimed at the very soul of an unfaithful lover.
Betrayed by her boyfriend of the time, seething with jealousy and fury, Faithfull poured her every frayed feeling into the performance, until naked emotion disguised even the brutal frankness of the lyric. Indeed, although sensitive ears might well still recoil from some of the more explicit lines in the song, there can be few people who have not at one time experienced its meaning – and fewer still who could name another song that says the same things so perfectly. [ All Music ]
Lyrics
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 vise
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 favor, 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 screamed, after all we’ve said
Every time I see your dick I see her cunt in my bed
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d ya do what you did?
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d ya do what you did?
Betray my little oyster for such a low bitch
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 you do what you did?
Why’d ya do it, she said, why’d you do it, she said
Why’d you do what you did?
Big, gray 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?)
(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 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 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 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 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 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 you do what you did?)