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 crossing over to the afterlife. Next, the band carries the coffin into a hearse, and the trunk door closes, with Gerard peeking in.
The music video for “Helena” was filmed at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
“Helena (So Long & Goodnight)” was written as a tribute to Gerard and Mikey Way’s late grandmother (who was called Helen by her friends). Her actual name was Elena.
Gerard calls this song an “angry open letter to [himself].” He expresses the hatred he felt for himself after her death:
"It’s about why I wasn’t around for this woman who was so special to me, why I wasn’t there for the last year of her life."
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 there for the last year of her life. Self hate is always a big part of the lyrics. I’ve felt like that all my life. I don’t know why but I’ve always hated myself. Hopefully that self hate is growing into something else now, hopefully it’s grown into caring about myself and wanting to stay alive."
He goes on to connect his problems with alcohol with the loss of his grandmother:
“That was the worst moment of my life. I also think losing my grandmother and the drinking were probably connected. When I quit I could see myself clearly and I wasn’t sure how much I liked it. I wasn’t confident about anything, I was just depressed. Also, when you get sober, everyone is very honest about everything you’ve done. That can be hard."
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[Verse 1]
Long ago, just like the hearse you die to get in again
We are so far from you
Burning on, just like the match you strike to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know
[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, not goodnight
[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 long and goodnight
[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 long and goodnight
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