Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. anything designed to elicit pity.

1978

W. Diehl Sharky’s Machine 190: What is this here you’re layin’ off on me, Arch? What’s with this heartbreak hotel shit?

2. a prison.

1981		A. Weller Day of the Dog 58: Ow was the old ’eartbreak ’otel, Dougo? Full of shit, eh?
1990		Crow Dog & Erdoes Lakota Woman 166: I was not too happy in that jail which the goons jokingly called ‘Heartbreak Hotel’.