Eleanor Rigby
Echoes of Solitude: Unraveling Loneliness in John Denver's Eleanor Rigby
Lyrics
Ah, look at all the lonely people!
Expresses observation of lonely individuals.
Ah, look at all the lonely people!
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church
Depicts Eleanor Rigby collecting rice after a wedding.
Where a wedding has been
Highlights the aftermath of a wedding ceremony.
Lives in a dream
Suggests Eleanor lives in a dream world.
Waits at the window, wearing a face
Describes Eleanor waiting at the window with a concealed emotion.
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Details the face she keeps in a jar by the door, symbolizing a facade.
Who is it for?
Raises the question of the purpose of her facade.
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Ponders the origin of all the lonely people.
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
Questions where lonely people belong.
Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon
Introduces Father McKenzie writing a sermon with no audience.
That no one will hear
Emphasizes the isolation of Father McKenzie's words.
No one comes near
Highlights the lack of listeners for his sermon.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night
Depicts Father McKenzie mending socks alone at night.
When there's nobody there, what does he care?
Questions the significance of his actions when nobody is around.
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Reiterates the question about the origin of lonely people.
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
Reiterates the question about where lonely people belong.
Ah, look at all the lonely people!
Reiterates the observation of lonely individuals.
Ah, look at all the lonely people!
Reiteration, reinforcing the prevalence of loneliness.
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried
Reports Eleanor Rigby's death and burial in the church.
Along with her name
Notes the burial of Eleanor along with her name.
Nobody came
Reveals the absence of attendees at Eleanor's funeral.
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands
Depicts Father McKenzie cleaning his hands after the burial.
As he walks from the grave
Describes his departure from the grave.
No one was saved
Highlights the lack of salvation or help for anyone.
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Ponders again on the origin of lonely people.
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
Reiterates the question of where lonely people belong.
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