Helena

Album: Famous Monsters (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Based on the critically panned 1993 film Boxing Helena, the song "Helena" tells the tale of a woman held captive and having her arms and legs amputated. In the movie, the captor is a surgeon obsessed with the title character after a brief romantic encounter. He kidnaps Helena after she's involved in a car accident near his home, and the amputations begin as "treatment" for her badly broken leg.

    The song is sung in first person from the perspective of the kidnapper, and makes no reference to the circumstances around the kidnapping. Instead, it focuses solely on the amputations themselves, interspersed with the plea, "Why don't you love me anyway?" Gruesome and descriptive, "Helena" takes the spurned-lover ballad to a whole other level, typical of the camp and gore the Misfits have become known for.
  • The Misfits broke up in 1983 but bass player Jerry Only got the band back together in 1995 with a new lineup, with Michale Graves replacing their famous founder, Glenn Danzig, as lead singer. "Helena" is part of their Famous Monsters album, their third after the band re-formed.

Comments: 6

  • Larry from ChicagoClean My Wounds was originally done by Thin Lizzy.
  • Julian from DenverSounds like Clean my Wounds by Corrosion of Conformity, but still one of my all time favourites.
  • Jlicano from DenverThe middle section also is a partial homage to Metallica's Welcome Home Sanitarium
  • N from A PlaceLove this song, but never knew where the lyrics came from. Great Album!
  • Johnn from Tijuana, Mexicothis song whas write by michale graves & doyle wolfgang von frankenstein!!!
  • Anna from Aberdeen, NcThis song is absolutely brilliant.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.