Something for the Pain


"Something for the Pain" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on September 5, 1995, by Mercury Records as the second single from their sixth studio album, These Days. It is written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, and produced by Bon Jovi, Sambora and Peter Collins. The song charted at number 15 in Canada, number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and number four in Finland. In the United States, it was released as a double A-side with "Lie to Me" and peaked at number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

Helen Lamont from Smash Hits gave the song two out of five, writing, "Hands up if you've been complaing about Bon Jovi playing too many "rock" ballads of late? Well, the Jovi have returned to their roots. Or at least they've tried. 'Something for the Pain' is just a fairly unremarkable rock song with nothing to commend it other than that it's by Bon Jovi. Not so much 'Livin' on a Prayer', then, as 'Living on a Past Reputation'."

Music video

The music video for the song was released in 1995 and directed by Marty Callner. It shows a young man walking into a Virgin music store and heading to listen to some sample music. On the screen, it shows the band playing with other cast members singing the song in different scenarios. In the video are actors impersonating Eddie Vedder, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Courtney Love, and Scott Weiland, who also sing along to the song. The teenager enjoys the video when Bon Jovi appears, but expresses disdain when seeing the other artists. It ends with the teenager stealing a copy of These Days.

Track listings

US CD, 7-inch, and cassette single
  1. "Something for the Pain" – 3:57
  2. "Lie to Me" – 5:33US maxi-CD single
  3. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  4. "Lie to Me" – 5:33
  5. "Wild in the Streets" – 5:01
  6. "634-5789" – 3:08UK CD1
  7. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  8. "This [Ain't a Love Song]" – 6:27
  9. "I Don't Like Mondays" – 5:58UK CD2
  10. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  11. "Livin' on a Prayer" – 5:56
  12. "You [Give Love a Bad Name]" – 3:40
  13. "Wild in the Streets" – 5:01UK cassette single and European CD single
  14. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  15. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 6:27Australian CD single
  16. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  17. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 6:27
  18. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:40
  19. "Wild in the Streets" – 5:01Australian limited-edition CD single
  20. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  21. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 6:27
  22. "I Don't Like Mondays" – 5:58
  23. "Livin' on a Prayer" – 5:56Japanese CD single
  24. "Something for the Pain" – 4:46
  25. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 6:26
  26. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:51
  27. "Wild in the Streets" – 4:59
  28. "Como yo nadie te ha amado" Japanese mini-CD single
  29. "Something for the Pain"
  30. "Livin' on a Prayer"
  31. "I Don't Like Mondays"