The discography of Helmet boasts eight studio albums and two compilation albums. Following their initial release, "Strap It On" (1990), through Amphetamine Reptile, Helmet inked a deal with Interscope Records, leading to three albums under the label, notably the highly successful "Meantime" (1992). While their subsequent works, "Betty" (1994) and "Aftertaste" (1997), achieved considerable success, they fell short of matching the critical and popular acclaim garnered by "Meantime." After disbanding in 1998, Helmet regrouped in 2004 and has since presented four additional albums: "Size Matters" (2004), "Monochrome" (2006), "Seeing Eye Dog" (2010), and "Dead to the World" (2016). Currently, the band is actively engaged in the creation of their ninth studio album.
Discography
Strap It On (1990)
Meantime (1992)
Betty (1994)
Aftertaste (1997)
Size Matters (2004)
Monochrome (2006)
Seeing Eye Dog (2010)
Dead to the World (2016)
So Long
Helmet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My vices
In time for her next crisis
Shit's crashing
Around us
No use pretending we trust
She's better
No wonder
You push
I shove
Just like we were in love
Take all
Take all my money
Forgive
Forget
But she ain't done yet
Its total
Disaster
To duck, try to slip past her
Take all
Take all my money
Get lost
So long now honey
It's no better
It's no better now
It's no better
No wonder
This fucking life gets longer
You push
I shove
Just like we were in love
Take all
Take all my money
Get lost
So long now honey
Take all
Take all my money
Get lost
So long now honey
The lyrics to Helmet's song So Long are a commentary on a tumultuous, perhaps even abusive, relationship. The singer of the song has just kicked his vices, implying that they were a source of instability in the relationship. However, despite his efforts to stabilize things, "shit's crashing around us" and there is "no use pretending we trust." The woman in the relationship is described as "better," but that does not change the fact that "every day gets longer." The singer is still struggling to hang on, trying to push back against the negative forces in the relationship ("you push, I shove"), even though it feels like they are "just like we were in love."
The chorus of the song is particularly telling, with the singer offering to "take all my money" and urging his partner to "get lost" with the repeated refrain of "so long now honey." This can be interpreted as a desperate bid to gain control over the situation, and perhaps even a recognition that there is no possibility of a happy conclusion to the relationship. Despite this recognition, the singer cannot help feeling that "it's no better now," and that "this fucking life gets longer."
Ultimately, So Long is a reflection on the pain and heartache that can come from an unhealthy relationship, and how difficult it can be to extricate oneself from such a situation. The lyrics capture the sense of despair and futility that can come from such a situation, as well as the almost addictive quality that such emotional turmoil can have.
Line by Line Meaning
Just kicked all
I recently quit all my bad habits
My vices
My negative addictions or behaviors
In time for her next crisis
I got rid of my vices just in time for my partner's next major problem
Shit's crashing
Things are falling apart
Around us
In our lives
No use pretending we trust
We can't pretend to trust each other anymore
She's better
My partner is improving
No wonder
It's not surprising
Every day gets longer
Days feel longer because of our struggles
You push
You challenge me
I shove
I have to push back
Just like we were in love
Our intense emotions still exist, even if we're not in love anymore
Take all
Take everything I have
Take all my money
Monetary possessions are meaningless in comparison to relationship issues
Forgive
Make amends for past mistakes
Forget
Let go of grudges and bad memories
But she ain't done yet
My partner still has problems to work on
Its total
The situation is completely
Disaster
A complete catastrophe
To duck, try to slip past her
Avoiding my partner's issues only makes things worse
Get lost
Leave me alone
So long now honey
I'm saying goodbye for good
It's no better
Things haven't improved
No wonder
It's unsurprising
This fucking life gets longer
Our lives feel even more unbearable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAGE HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Front Row Boston
I loved that song Unsung as a teenager... Nice to see Helmet rocking out.
Luke Collins
They still sound great..even with the new band,etc...
musiclover01ization
Helmet are awesome.
Maciej Kulczycki
Madness and invention - the best :)
Bepi Visintainer
I'm divorced. I can really relate to this song
Bepi Visintainer
@Brent Saylor 🤣
Brent Saylor
Me too. My new theme song!
Lane Meyer
Going in June at The Met in Pawtucket, RI
This vid kicks serious ass btw