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

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.