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		Pain Hear It! (308k)

We must be careful what we say about this song. After all, many people really seem to like it, to get into the spirit of it, relate to it. We hate to disappoint anyone, but the truth of the matter is... we weren't serious about this. In fact, we thought it was pretty damn funny. We originally came up with this idea during a break while working on 'The Distance Between Us'. Mark was playing this dark-sounding bass riff, and John thought it would be great fun to fill in the space with just guitar sound effects. After a minute or two, Mark realized he had the perfect lyrics for it. Completely spontaneously and quite by surprise, HBI had come up with a new song. Given the dark nature of the lyrics and music, it was only natural that Mark adopt a Robert Smith-esque vocal style for the song. As indicated in the notes for 'The Distance Between Us', John contacted his brother-in-law, Mike Alberts, to help with recording. After recording 'Distance' HBI decided to put 'Pain' on tape as well. The song was done in just three tracks, bass, guitar, and vocal. The guitar sound was acheived by using a flanger, chorus, and delay simultaneously. The screeching sounds came courtesy of John's tremelo bridge. Since John had not oiled the tremelo arm (where it screws into the bridge) the metal would rub against metal and make a squealing friction sound when the arm was spun. Ordinarily, it would have caused problems, but for this occasion, it turned out to be a blessing. By the time we finished, all three of us were laughing out loud. Since the original recording of 'Pain' was lost, and the copies we had were not of good quality, HBI completely re-recorded it in May 2001 to include on the "Graven Images" CD release. Although, we did add a few new elements, such as a Cry Baby pedal and some modest precussion, the new version is still very true to the original.

what have I done to deserve this? Rage-anger-fear-depression- Coldness-loneliness dark utter loneliness and despair. Why should this happen to me now why of all times why my heart breaks into a million tear-drenched pieces which fall like slow melancholy petals from a dying rose despair terror fill my heart is this the hell to which I'm consigned? O God save me bring her back to me Lyrics by Mark Schaefer ©1992 by HBI and Red December Music