House of Pain

Released: June 28, 1994

Songwriter: Everlast

Producer: DJ Lethal

[Verse 1: Everlast]
I walk through the Valley of Death, 600 deep
Waking up dead from the sleep
Just like a diamond watch me shine
Bright like the sun
Make you want to pull a gun
And buck two shots for the Peckerwood rocking
Put down your Glock for your block
I'll be knocking dead off your shoulders, heads'll roll
The Peckerwood P-funk assassin of soul
Is in control, so have no fear
I'm in this for real, make it crystal clear
I get a little better each and every year
It's called improvement, your style’s bowel movement
I'm taking you back to Malcolm McLaren
My whole family's stoned but there ain't one Sharon
So whatcha looking at, huh, why you staring?
Just take a picture before I have to hit ya
Ease back kid, gimme some space
Or "Whoomp (There It Is!)" upside your face

[Chorus: Everlast]
Cause a hero ain't nothing but a sandwich
And a legend ain't nothing but a car
So shoot dope in your veins and get some fame
And maybe one day you'll be a star
You know a hero ain't nothing but a sandwich
And a legend ain't nothing but a car
So go blow out your brains to get some fame
And maybe one day you'll be a star

[Verse 2: Everlast]
I live in a house and it's full of pain
But still I refrain from going insane
I stay "On Point" like a sniper
Chilling in the Viper Room before it became a tomb
Take the low road and you hit rock bottom and keep low riding
All the way to Sodom and back to Gomorrah
Now your senora
Is a pillar of salt and it's all your fault
Get your S&M downtown at The Vault
Dirty little fuck-up raising hell
But next year we'll all talk about how you fell
Cause you're judged on how your records sell

[Chorus: Everlast]
Cause a hero ain't nothing but a sandwich
And a legend ain't nothing but a car
So get locked up in chains to get some fame
And maybe one day you'll be a star
A hero ain't nothing but a sandwich
And a legend ain't nothing but a car
So go blow out your brains like Kurt Cobain
Maybe one day you'll be a star (4x)

[Verse 3: Everlast]
Let's break it down to the bare root essence
Count your fingers and then count your blessings
True confessions, ask the questions
Substitute your answers with your obsessions
I take to the break of dawn of time
I do it all the time
But yo, it don't come easy
Cause I turn on the TV
And see more and more pain and less and less glory
And it's the same old story
You see year after year, the programs fear
But I ain't subscribing till there's live executions
On pay-per-view
Word to Donahue put on Melrose Place
"Whoomp (There It Is!)" upside your face!

Everlast was barely of legal drinking age when he released his major label rap debut, Forever Everlasting, as part of Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate. Next he teamed with his high school pal Danny “Danny Boy” O'Connor, a hype man and graphic designer, to form the Irish American-centric House Of Pain, backed by Everlast’s longtime DJ, DJ Lethal (who is of Latvian/Russian descent).

“Jump Around” (produced by DJ Muggs) pushed House Of Pain’s debut to multiplatinum status, followed by the crossover rap/rock remix of “Shamrocks & Shenanigans.” After tours with Beastie Boys and Rage Against The Machine, their sophomore album went gold, but the group disbanded by the time their third album dropped.

DJ Lethal joined Limp Bizkit and Everlast went solo, going multiplatinum yet again on the acoustic/rap hybrid, Whitey Ford Sings The Blues. House Of Pain has reformed for festivals and club dates here and there ever since, often performing with Everlast’s backing band.

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