Devils and Angels (Hatred)

Song Meaning

Rufus Wainwright's "Devils and Angels (Hatred)" isn't a simple tale of good versus evil; it's a far more psychologically nuanced exploration of self-destruction and the seductive power of embracing one's darker impulses. The repeated phrase "Hatred on the horizon / Must be assumed for the ascension" acts as a twisted mantra, suggesting that Wainwright sees destructive feelings not as obstacles, but as fuel for some kind of personal transformation, however warped. This isn't about overcoming negativity; it's about harnessing it, weaponizing it, even worshipping it as a path to a higher, albeit corrupted, state. The imagery of dismantling a fortress – "Shatter the scepter / Lower the drawbridge / Drain the moat" – underscores this intentional breakdown of defenses. It's a deliberate act of vulnerability, not to receive love or understanding, but to expose oneself to the "monstrosities" lurking within and without. The lines "Unlock the padlock / Swallow the key / For any prisoners there won't be any need" hint that the speaker intends to obliterate any hope of escape or redemption; they are willingly surrendering to the darkness. The chorus, with its repeated assertion of giving oneself away to "devils, devils, and angels" and "monstrosities," is a chilling declaration of surrender. The phrase "Dispense with the niceties / Over, over to neither" implies a rejection of conventional morality, a conscious choice to inhabit a liminal space beyond good and evil. This isn't a cry for help; it's a statement of intent, a perverse act of self-sacrifice to the forces of chaos. The song's repetitive structure and increasingly intense delivery amplify the feeling of spiraling into a dark, obsessive state, leaving the listener with a sense of unease and the unsettling realization that sometimes, the most terrifying battles are the ones we wage against ourselves.