Putting Holes in Happiness

"Putting Holes in Happiness"
Song by Marilyn Manson
Album	Eat Me, Drink Me
Released	June 5, 2007
Recorded	October 31, 2006–February 26, 2007 in Beverly Hills and Hollywood, California
Genre	Alternative metal
Length	4:31
Label	Interscope
Writer	Marilyn Manson
Composer	Tim Skold
Producer	Marilyn Manson, Tim Skold

"Putting Holes in Happiness" is the second track from the 2007 release Eat Me, Drink Me. Written on his own birthday Manson describes the song as being "a romantic-misogynistic-cannibal-gothic-vampire ballad". Similarly he has described the whole album as being a "cannibal, consumption, obsessive, violent-sex, romance – but with an upbeat swing." The song was originally announced to be released as a single on September 3, 2007, but the release was later delayed to October 26th. On August 23, 2007, the music video for "Putting Holes in Happiness" was released on Yahoo.com.

Music details

Mid-tempo, guitar-orientated, more synths audible than on the album opener. Manson adopts a tortured croon; a guitar solo punctuates the track for almost a minute (2:46 – 3:37).

Appearances

Albums

• Eat Me, Drink Me
• Bonus Track and Instrumentals from the Album Eat Me, Drink Me

Singles

• Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)
• Putting Holes in Happiness

Versions

• Putting Holes in Happiness — Appears on Eat Me, Drink Me
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Radio Edit) — Appears on the "Putting Holes in Happiness" single.
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Acoustic Version) — Appears on "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)" single and the import version of Eat Me, Drink Me.
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Boys Noize Remix)
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Robots to Mars Mix)
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Guitar Hero Remix by Nick Zinner)
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Ginger Fish Remix)
• Putting Holes in Happiness (Instrumental) — Appears on Bonus Track and Instrumentals from the Album "Eat Me, Drink Me".
• Holes In Happiness (Remixed by DJ Eric ILL) — Official remix but not featured on any releases but was eventually released by the remixer to iTunes.

Versions of the single

Commercial releases

unknown flag: Germany unknown country Germany
Cover art	General information		Track listing
	Format: Packing: Release date: Barcode: Catalog no: Length:	CD extra Slim jewel case October 2007 02517 49867 0602517 498679	"Putting Holes in Happiness (Radio Edit)" – 3:57 "Putting Holes in Happiness (Boys Noize Remix)" – 5:36 "Putting Holes in Happiness (Guitar Hero Remix by Nick Zinner)" – 3:43 "Putting Holes in Happiness (music video)" – 3:57

Promotional releases

unknown flag: Australia unknown country Australia
Cover art	General information		Track listing
	Format: Packing: Release date: Barcode: Catalog no: Length:	CD Plastic sleeve July 2007 3:57	"Putting Holes in Happiness (Radio Edit)" – 3:57

unknown flag: Europe unknown country Europe
Cover art	General information		Track listing
	Format: Packing: Release date: Barcode: Catalog no: Length:	CD Slim jewel case July 2007 EATME03 3:57	"Putting Holes in Happiness (Radio Edit)" – 3:57

unknown flag: Germany unknown country Germany
Cover art	General information		Track listing
	Format: Packing: Release date: Barcode: Catalog no: Length:	12 inch vinyl Die-cut sleeve (with sticker) October 2007 13:49	Side A "Putting Holes in Happiness (Boys Noize Remix)" – 5:36 "Putting Holes in Happiness (Robots to Mars Mix)" – 4:27 Side B "Putting Holes in Happiness (Guitar Hero Remix by Nick Zinner)" – 3:46

unknown flag: Germany unknown country Germany
Cover art	General information		Track listing
	Format: Packing: Release date: Barcode: Catalog no: Length:	12 inch vinyl Die-cut sleeve December 2007	Side A Marilyn Manson - "Putting Holes in Happiness (Boys Noize Remix)" – 5:36 Side B The Doors - "This Is the End (Dirty South Remix)"

Music Video

Manson in the music video

The music video, directed by the famous French filmmaker Phillipe Grandieux, is a simple performance by the band in an unknown, seemingly outdoor area. There is a young girl Manson is seen with many times in the video, and also a small boy who seems to be frightfully screaming from something not seen. Manson has stated in various interviews that select segments of the video were filmed in Germany during the shooting of the "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)" video in April 2007.

Lyrics

    The sky was blonde like her
    it was a day to take the child out back and shoot it.
    I could have buried all my dead up in her cemetery head 
    she had dirty word witchcraft I was in the deep end of her skin.
    Then...it seemed like a one car wreck
    but I knew it was a horrid tragedy
    Ways to make the tiny satisfaction disappear.
    
    Blow out the candles 
    on all my frankensteins.
    At least my death wish will come true.
    You taste like Valentines and we cry,
    You're like a birthday.
    I should have picked the photograph 
    it lasted longer than you.
    
    Putting holes in happiness 
    We'll paint the future black if it needs any color.
    My death sentence is a story
    who'll be digging when you finally let me die?
    The romance of our assassination
    If you're Bonnie, I'll be your Clyde.
    But the grass is greener here and
    I can see all of your snakes.
    You wear your ruins well
    please run away with me to hell
    
    Blow out the candles 
    on all my frankensteins.
    At least my death wish will come true.
    You taste like Valentines and we cry,
    You're like a birthday.
    I should have picked the photograph 
    it lasted longer than you.

Trivia

• The song was written on January 5, 2007, Manson's 38th birthday, and the date of his divorce with Dita Von Teese.
• The title dates as far back as 2003, which was the name of a journal entry by Manson. It was then titled PUTTING HOLES INTO HAPPINESS.