My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance & Bert McCracken
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
“Helena” (sometimes titled “Helena (So Long & Goodnight)” on digital retailers like iTunes) was written as a tribute to Gerard and Mikey Way’s late grandmother. She was called Helen by her friends while her actual name was Elena.
Gerard calls this song an “angry open letter to [himself].” He e...
[Verse 1]
Long ago, just like the Hearse you die to get in again
We are so far from you
Burning on, just like a match you strike to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know
[Pre-Chorus]
And what's the worst to take (Worst to take)
From every heart you break? (Heart you break)
And like the blade you stain (Blade you stain)
Well, I've been holding on tonight
[Chorus]
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So love your good night
[Verse 2]
Came a time when every star fall brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold
[Pre-Chorus]
And what's the worst you take (Worst you take)
From every heart you break? (Heart you break)
And like the blade you stain (Blade you stain)
Well, I've been holding on tonight
[Chorus]
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long, and goodnight
Well, if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So love your good night
[Bridge]
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave, and then
We'll meet again
When both our cars collide?
[Chorus]
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long, and goodnight
Well, if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So love your good night
Helena was written by Frank Iero & Matt Pelissier & Ray Toro & Mikey Way & Gerard Way.
Helena was produced by Howard Benson & My Chemical Romance.
My Chemical Romance released Helena on Mon May 23 2005.
Gerard Way spoke about this song in an interview with Kerrang! magazine in February 2005:
I have had a lot of self hate. The most recent example was the song ‘Helena’. It’s a really angry open letter to myself. It’s about why I wasn’t around for this woman who was so special to me, why I wasn’t th...
In the music video for “Helena,” the band finds themselves at a funeral for a young woman. They perform and dance with some funeral-goers, and eventually everyone closes their eyes for a prayer. At this time, the woman seems to come back to life and dance around the pews, but it represents her soul...
The music video for “Helena” was filmed at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
“Helena” music video
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Tracy Phillips was the dancer who portrayed Helena in the music video.
The line could have multiple meanings, but the most obvious being explained in the tate about the two of them (Gerard and his grandmother, Helena) meeting again.
Alternatively, it could be referring to the paths of their lives crossing again, or maybe them meeting in Heaven after Gerard’s death.
“Helena" is ultimately unrelated to the album, as Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother died during their Bullets… tour and it was written in honor of her.
Alternatively, this can be seen as the death of one of the two ‘Demolition Lovers,’ as Helena is portrayed as a young woman.