There have been songs written about many kinds of houses but I never heard any songs written about the House of Pain. It was not until I drifted into Tucson Arizona that these particular houses were made known to me. I want you to know that these houses exist everywhere in the United States and abroad. I will now tell you of my first experience in the "House of Pain".

Once I arrived to Tucson Arizona, I was sitting in a bar by the Town Square. There I met this fellow from whom I obtained the necessary information as to where to buy and smoke my drug. Once the transaction was completed, my new guide led me through the desert hot streets of Tucson to an apartment house on a corner not far from the center of town. This three-story apartment house looked no different than any other. I noticed that there was some activity
on the top unit. I was led through a crowd of people on the stairs and entered the apartment

There I was introduced to a bi-racial couple, He was tall, had that "crack" thinness, and was a nice enough fellow, his wife was a blue eyed, blond, who was very pretty. I was led into the living room where I could sit and smoke my drug. In the living room, there were people all ready there smoking. The apartment was ordinary enough, furnitured as any other but the curious thing was that on the wall behind the couch (at eye level) someone had taken a spray paint can and scrawled (in red) on the wall "House of pain".

I was very curious but reserved comment for after I finished what I came there for. As I spent time there I noticed many coming in and out. It is customary that when entering a house like this, that you give the proprietor a part of what you have bought, a fee so to speak.
After that is done, you are good to stay as long as you have some. So there I sat and used while watching the going on's in the apartment. The man of the house consumed and shared what was given to him (by all those who came) with his wife and when he was through and they had no more, his wife began to trick (prostitute) with those men who wanted sex.

I sat there and watched him , his facial expressions, and his demeanor. I wondered what he was feeling to see and hear what was going on in his own bedroom (with his own wife).
To hear the savage creaking of springs and the moans of pleasure emanating from their bedroom. To know that this was not going to be the first nor last man. To know that his wife would open her legs many more times tonight, tomorrow and so on. I tried to put myself in his place and wonder what I would do in his place, but failed miserably. I just could not even begin to consider the thought.

I wondered what a powerful drug this is that could take something (like marriage) and pervert it to an abomination. I saw extreme sadness, shame and hopelessness in both their eyes. I saw that they hated the whole situation but loved the drug. They were in the grips of one of the most powerful addictions out there. What a conundrum. All our lives were twisted! The people already there (some of them) would pawn their watches, jewelry, etc to get more drugs. Nothing is sacred.
Everything and everybody is for sale.

What a terrible and sad thing. The power of this particular addiction is awe inspiring. No one is beyond its manipulations. I now knew what the pain was. I now knew how this was the "House Of Pain". I will bet all, that in your town or city, there is one too.

These houses are not sung about. I've heard of the House of the Rising Sun, Hotel California but, no one sings about the House of Pain. People come in here and spend all in a matter of hours, rent, bills, car payments, it does not matter. It is all spent! In these houses people lose themselves, their lives, dreams go up in smoke and souls are lost, because everybody knows that in these houses......you most assuredly WILL dance with the Devil.