Lyrics
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Observation of lonely people in a community.
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the loneliness theme.
Eleanor Rigby
Introduction of the character Eleanor Rigby.
Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Eleanor is involved in cleaning after a wedding in the church, highlighting her mundane tasks.
Lives in a dream
Implies that Eleanor lives in a world of imagination or fantasy.
Waits at the window
Depicts Eleanor waiting by the window, possibly for someone or something.
Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Describes her wearing a figurative mask, suggesting a concealed or altered identity.
Who is it for?
Ponders the purpose of Eleanor's façade.
All the lonely people
Rhetorical question about the origin of lonely individuals.
Where do they all come from?
Continuation of the inquiry into the source of loneliness.
All the lonely people
Repetition of the question regarding the belonging of lonely people.
Where do they all belong?
Emphasizes the need to understand where lonely people fit in.
Father McKenzie
Introduction of Father McKenzie, a clergyman.
Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
Describes Father McKenzie writing a sermon that seemingly goes unheard.
No one comes near
Highlights the lack of attention or congregation for Father McKenzie's words.
Look at him working
Portrays Father McKenzie performing mundane tasks, such as mending socks.
Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
Indicates that he does these tasks alone in the night.
What does he care?
Raises the question of Father McKenzie's emotional state and his indifference.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the lonely people theme.
Where do they all come from?
Continuation of the inquiry into the origin of loneliness.
All the lonely people
Repetition of the question about where lonely people belong.
Where do they all belong?
Reemphasizes the need to understand the place of lonely individuals.
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Restatement of the observation of lonely people.
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the loneliness theme.
Eleanor Rigby
Return to the character Eleanor Rigby.
Died in the church and was buried along with her name
Reports Eleanor's death in the church and burial without attendees.
Nobody came
Emphasizes the isolation and lack of community around Eleanor at the time of her death.
Father McKenzie
Return to Father McKenzie, now completing the burial process.
Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
Depicts Father McKenzie cleaning his hands after the lonely burial.
No one was saved
Suggests a lack of salvation or rescue for anyone in this lonely scenario.
All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Reiteration of the question about the origin of lonely individuals.
Where do they all come from?
Continuation of the inquiry into the source of loneliness.
All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Repetition of the question regarding the belonging of lonely people.
Where do they all belong?
Emphasizes the need to understand where lonely people fit in.
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