Helena (song)

Helena is a rock song from My Chemical Romance's 2004 album Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. The lyrics describe lead singer Gerard Way's feelings for his late grandmother, Ellena. Stylistically, the song is a mixture of dance, punk-rock, and emo. The single has become a best-selling hit, both in the US and internationally because its such an awsome song.

Music video

The video was shot on-location in a Roman-Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles, California, directed by Marc Webb, and choreographed by Michael Rooney. The video has a simple plot, with Gerard Way as a pastor-cum-entertainer at a funeral where the band is performing. There are also mourners who dance and mourn the death of Helena. Near the end, the dead body of Helena (played by Tracey Philips) appears and dances down the center aisle of the church's narthex representing crossing over into the afterlife. After she falls back into the casket, the pallbearers (also played by MCR) carry the casket to the hearse, surrounded by a phalanx of dancers. The video currently sits at number one on MTV's TRL.

The video was nominated for five Moonmen at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Rock Video, Best Choreography, Best New Artist, and the MTV2 and Viewer's Choice Awards (both of which are choosen by viewers).

Lyrics

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

And what’s the worst you take (worst you take)

From every heart you break (heart you break)

And like a blade you stain (blade you stain)

Well, I've been holding on tonight

[chorus]

What’s the worst that I could say?

Things are better if I stay

So long and goodnight

So long not goodnight

Came a time

When every star falls

Brought you to tears again

We are the very hurt you sold

And what’s the worst you take (worst you take)

From every heart you break (heart you break)

And like a blade you stain (blade you stain)

Well, I've been holding on tonight

[chorus]

What’s the worst I could say?

Things are better if I stay

So long and goodnight

So long not goodnight

Well, if you carry on this way

Things are better if I stay

So long and goodnight

So long not goodnight

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 I could say?

Things are better if I stay

So long and goodnight

So long not goodnight

well, if you carry on this way

things are better if i stay

so long and goodnight

so long not goodnight