In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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
And what's the worst you take
From every heart you break?
And like the blade you'll stain
Well, I've been holding on tonight
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Came a time
When every star fall
Brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold
And what's the worst you take
From every heart you break?
And like a blade you'll stain
Well, I've been holding on tonight
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
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then
We'll meet again
When both our cars collide
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
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
And what's the worst you take
From every heart you break?
And like the blade you'll stain
Well, I've been holding on tonight
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Came a time
When every star fall
Brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold
And what's the worst you take
From every heart you break?
And like a blade you'll stain
Well, I've been holding on tonight
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
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then
We'll meet again
When both our cars collide
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Lyrics submitted by Brandnizzle2k4, edited by johnpu, Mikaela120, SmashingDestiny, Voyeur182, LeMarkyDussod
Helena Lyrics as written by Gerard Way Frank Iero
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Ok, I know it's about his grandma, but I interpret it differently. I think it's about a girl who was suicidal and mentally ill. She kills herself, and this song is about the guy who loved her feeling angry and having to deal with the aftermath. He's pissed that she was so eager to die. He's says that everyone is far from her. I think this means both physically because she's dead, and mentally because she was so hard to understand. Now that she's gone I think her presence is still burning around them. He's saying that even in death she makes the lives of the people she knew difficult. The chorus basically reiterates the point. I think the blade part refers to her suicide. He doesn't say a blade, but "the" blade. Now he's holding on, but it's been hard on him. He's thinking about how in life she pushed him away and he wanted to leave sometimes, but it was better that he stayed. I also think at this point he's considering dying to be with her, but he knows that it's better for him to stay. Then he tells her goodbye. He remembers when she was at her worst and everything made her emotional and sad. Then she basically transferred her pain to everyone else when she killed herself. He knows they will meet again in death. Until then he has to pretend that he's over her even though he never really will be.
Wow. I would have never thought that but it makes so much sense
@SparkleNShine that was absolutely beautiful, nobody could've said it better than you did just then
@SparkleNShine This makes sense because of the line "Can you hear me? Are you near me? Can we pretend to leave and then we'll meet again when both our cars collide?" I feel as if it's him in her room looking at her when he says can you hear me? are you near me?
@SparkleNShine I think this is a really good interpretation of this song. I personally had never thought of "Helena" as an ode to lover's suicide until now. Reading back on all the lyrics now, this makes sense! Thanks! Still a great song, and MCR is one of my favorite bands...they are amazing. :'>
@OnlineParasite holy shit. Imma turn this into a fanfic, if you don't mind.
Everyone is here from 2004 and I'm still stuck in my emo phase in 2017
@Georgia.A Honestly same<br />
@Georgia.A late bloomer perhaps??<br /> <br /> I personally still enjoy this song, but never went through the whole emo phase
@Georgia.A June 2017. We're all still here.
@Georgia.A i just started my emo phase without being emo. i just enjoy the music.
i really fucking like this song a lot.
@forEsme why? What about the lyrics especially make you like this song so much?
I think this song can be interpreted in many ways, as we can all relate differently to different songs in our special ways. I believe that this song was a tribute to Gerard Way's grandmother as he said so himself, however, I've had my own interpretation of this song before I knew that.
Lovers become separated by death. The woman dies but wants more life, and she refuses to leave her lover so she returns from the dead; cheats death in a sense. The man loves her but believes it is best that their worlds don't collide, though he still wants to be with her. He belongs among the living. He knows that once he dies and becomes like her, they will be together so he's saying a bittersweet goodbye to her until then and wishes for her to remain dead until the time comes ("Things are better if I stay"). If there was another way they could be together he'd love to take that chance buy he feels he doesn't belong dead just yet, and if she loves him she'll wait for him in death.
I think this way because, yes, Sweet Revenge is a concept album. Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade both tell beautiful stories, and Sweet Revenge is about death and love.
I LOVE THIS SONG!! IM GONNA NAME MY KID HELENA!!!!!!!!!!!
i think it's actually "what's the worst thing i could say" but yeah this song is fuckin amazing. this album is gonna be huge. anyone rip "you know what they do to guys like us in prison" yet? cause i REALLY need that song.
I was scared when I heard that they moved to Vagrant . . . significantly scared. This song more than assuages those fears. I always said they needed more "demolition lovers"-type songs. Here is one. It makes me a happy panda.
hahaha is that a sexual harrassment panda reference by chance??
Death is singing this song:
And if you carry on this way Things are better if I stay So long and goodnight
This song is great. Change of pace from "normal" MCR.
I was scared when I heard that they moved to Vagrant . . . significantly scared. This song more than assuages those fears. I always said they needed more "demolition lovers"-type songs. Here is one. It makes me a happy panda.