Old Whore’s Diet

Song Meaning

Rufus Wainwright's "Old Whore's Diet" isn't about dietary restrictions; it's a twisted, almost nihilistic mantra on motivation and desire. The core of the song meaning lies in the paradox of the title itself. What fuels someone who's supposedly 'used up,' someone society deems beyond the pale? Wainwright suggests it's a cocktail of self-deception, raw need, and a defiant embrace of the grotesque. The repeated line, "Gets me goin' in the mornin'," becomes less about literal action and more about a psychological kickstart, a perverse affirmation of continued existence. The lyrical simplicity is deceptive; it's the *repetition* that drills the message home. The "old whore's diet" isn't a regimen; it's a state of mind. It's about finding a reason, however warped, to face another day. The phrase "To say I love you / Gets me goin' where I want to" is particularly biting. It suggests love, or at least the *performance* of love, is a tool, a means to an end. This isn't romantic love; it's transactional, a way to manipulate oneself and others. The extended vocalizations – the "Ah-ah-ah-ah" and "Ooo-ooo" sections – act as both release and further intensification. They mirror the building tension of desire, the almost manic energy that comes from chasing a fleeting satisfaction. Wainwright uses these vocal runs to heighten the song's unsettling atmosphere, pushing the listener into the same uncomfortable space as the song's persona. Finally, the lines "Either here or Hell will do / Either here or Hell will employ you" are a stark acknowledgement of the limited options available. It’s a bleak commentary on societal roles and the desperation to find purpose, even in degradation. The mention of "suicidal assistance" throws a further shadow, hinting at the dark places this "diet" can lead. Wainwright isn't celebrating depravity; he's dissecting the psychological mechanisms that allow people to survive, even when they're clinging to the fringes of society. The song’s brilliance lies in its unsettling honesty, its refusal to flinch from the ugliness that can drive human behavior.