Daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and the sister of Rufus Wainwright, she has frequently appeared on recordings by her family members, the McGarrigle Sisters and Family and has released several independent EPs. Wainwright released an independent cassette, Ground Floor, in 1997. The following year, her song "Year of the Dragon" appeared on The McGarrigle Hour, an album released by Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Shortly after this recording, Martha began singing backup vocals for her brother, and released the six-song EP Martha Wainwright in 1999.
Her full length self-titled first album was released in 2005, followed in 2008 by I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too, and in 2009 by Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record. The Prosperpina Songfacts reports that her 4th album, Come Home To Mama, was recorded at Sean Lennon's studio in New York City. Speaking about the album, Wainwright said: "This record is a culmination of my life experiences so far. Everything changed for me a couple of years ago and this record is a representation of that and a return to the reason I started writing songs."
Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
Martha Wainwright Lyrics
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And I'm young and I'm strong
But I feel old and tired
Over fired
And I've been poked and stoked
It's all smoke, there's no more fire
Only desire
For you, whoever you are
For you, whoever you are
You say my time here has been some sort of joke
That I've been messing around
Some sort of incubating period
For when I really come around
I'm cracking up
And you have no idea
No idea how it feels to be on your own
In your own home
With the fucking phone
And the mother of gloom
In your bedroom
Standing over your head
With her hand in your head
With her hand in your head
I will not pretend
I will not put on a smile
I will not say I'm all right for you
When all I wanted was to be good
To do everything in truth
To do everything in truth
Oh I wish I wish I wish I was born a man
So I could learn how to stand up for myself
Like those guys with guitars
I've been watching in bars
Who've been stamping their feet to a different beat
To a different beat
To a different beat
I will not pretend
I will not put on a smile
I will not say I'm all right for you
When all I wanted was to be good
To do everything in truth
To do everything in truth
You bloody mother fucking asshole
Oh you bloody mother fucking asshole
Oh you bloody mother fucking asshole
I will not pretend
I will not put on a smile
I will not say I'm all right for you
For you, whoever you are
In "Bloody Mother Fuckin Asshole," Martha Wainwright sings about feeling used and tired of being told what to do. She sings about feeling like a whore in a poetic world and the desire to be genuine and truthful. The song also addresses the frustration of being belittled and not taken seriously by a man who calls her a "joke" and suggests her talents have been wasted on "incubating." The lyrics speak to the experience of feeling alone and helpless, whether it's in one's own home or in a wider world that doesn't value women. The chorus is a direct address to the man, calling him a "bloody mother fucking asshole" and refusing to pretend that everything is okay.
Line by Line Meaning
Poetry is no place for a heart that's a whore
I don't want to write insincere, shallow junk
And I'm young and I'm strong
I'm capable of greatness
But I feel old and tired
But being criticized for who I am and what I care about has worn me down
Over fired
I'm so sick of being judged and patronized
And I've been poked and stoked
I've been manipulated and taken advantage of by those who pretend to care
It's all smoke, there's no more fire
It's all lies and empty promises
Only desire
All I want is to be heard and understood
For you, whoever you are
I'm begging for someone to just listen and respect me
You say my time here has been some sort of joke
You mock and belittle my experiences and talents
That I've been messing around
You don't take me seriously as an artist
Some sort of incubating period
You see my growth and exploration as an artist as a waste of time
For when I really come around
You don't recognize my achievements or potential
I'm cracking up
I'm struggling under the stress and disrespect
And you have no idea
You truly don't understand how hard this is for me
No idea how it feels to be on your own
You've never had to struggle like I do
In your own home
Even in the place where I should feel safe and accepted
With the fucking phone
I can't even make a phone call without feeling harassed and judged
And the mother of gloom
All-consuming depression keeps me from being happy and content
In your bedroom
Even in my own private space
Standing over your head
The depression feels like a constant weight on my shoulders
With her hand in your head
I feel like I'm going crazy in my own mind
I will not pretend
I refuse to act like everything is okay
I will not put on a smile
I won't fake happiness or acceptance
When all I wanted was to be good
All I ever wanted was to be accepted and respected for who I am
To do everything in truth
To be authentic and honest, even if it's hard
Oh I wish I wish I wish I was born a man
I wish I didn't have to deal with sexism and disrespect as a woman
So I could learn how to stand up for myself
So I could be treated with the respect and dignity I deserve and not be silenced
Like those guys with guitars
Like men are, without having to fight for it
I've been watching in bars
I've seen how differently the world treats men and women
Who've been stamping their feet to a different beat
Who don't have to follow the same oppressive rules
To a different beat
Who have the luxury of being themselves without judgment
You bloody mother fucking asshole
The people who hold me back and belittle me are despicable
For you, whoever you are
I reject the status quo and demand better treatment for myself and all women
Oh you bloody mother fucking asshole
I am not afraid to call out my oppressors
I will not pretend
I refuse to play by the oppressive societal rules
I will not put on a smile
I won't pretend to be something I'm not
I will not say I'm all right for you
I will demand the respect and treatment I deserve
When all I wanted was to be good
All I ever wanted was to be accepted and respected for who I am
To do everything in truth
To be authentic and honest, even if it's hard
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Martha Wainwright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind