Heartaches by the Number (song)

Heartaches by the Number is a song broadcast on Radio New Vegas, Mojave Music Radio, and Black Mountain Radio in Fallout: New Vegas. It was written by Harlan Howard. The version used in the game is a re-recording made by Guy Mitchell in 1980.

Background
The version that plays in-game is not the original 1959 version released by Columbia Records.

After his original 1959 hit, the advent of rock and roll and changing tastes meant that artists like Guy Mitchell could not survive with traditional pop. Later in his life, he re-recorded his hits for compilation albums. He is known to have made four different versions which has led to much confusion as to the correct version used.

August 24, 1959

''Session Personnel: Guy Mitchell with Joe Sherman and his Orchestra and Chorus (New York)
 * The original million-selling single from Columbia Records
 * Characterized by having three notes repeated on the piano at the end

September 1968
 * Recorded in Nashville for Starday Records
 * Characterized by having the drum accompanying the ending piano notes

June 1980
 * Recorded in Nashville for K-Tel Records
 * Characterized by having three notes repeated on an electronic keyboard at the end

February 1982
 * Recorded in Nashville for Arcade Records
 * Characterized by having no piano notes at the end, but has a guitar and drum flourish

Fallout: New Vegas uses the 1980 re-recording as demonstrated by the extracted game-files. 

Lyrics
[Chorus] Heartaches by the number, troubles by the score Every day you love me less, each day I love you more Yes, I've got heartaches by the number, a love that I can't win But the day that I stop counting, that's the day my world will end

[Verse 1] Heartache number one was when you left me I never knew I could hurt this way And heartache number two Was when you came back again You came back but never meant to stay

[Chorus] Yes, I've got Heartaches by the number, troubles by the score Every day you love me less, each day I love you more Yes, I've got heartaches by the number, a love that I can't win But the day that I stop counting, that's the day my world will end

[Verse 2] Heartache number three was when you called me And said that you were comin' back to stay With hopeful heart I waited for your knock on the door I waited but you must have lost your way

[Chorus] Yes, I've got Heartaches by the number, troubles by the score Every day you love me less, each day I love you more Yes, I've got heartaches by the number, a love that I can't win But the day that I stop counting, that's the day my world will end