Eleanor Rigby
Exploring the Poignant Tale of Loneliness in "Eleanor Rigby
Lyrics
Ah look at all the lonely people
Observation and empathy towards lonely individuals.
Ah look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
Depiction of Eleanor Rigby picking up rice after a wedding.
In the church where a wedding has been
Reference to the location, a church, where the wedding took place.
Lives in a dream
Description of Eleanor Rigby living in a dream, possibly a fantasy world.
Waits at the window, wearing the face
Depiction of Eleanor waiting at the window, wearing a metaphorical mask kept by the door.
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Elaboration on the face in a jar, symbolizing a façade or false identity.
Who is it for
Rhetorical question pondering the purpose of Eleanor's façade.
All the lonely people
Introduction of the theme of loneliness.
Where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of lonely people.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the presence of lonely individuals.
Where do they all belong?
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong.
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Introduction of Father McKenzie writing a sermon that goes unheard.
Of a sermon that no one will hear
Emphasis on the sermon's lack of audience.
No one comes near
Description of Father McKenzie's isolation.
Look at him working, darning his socks
Depiction of Father McKenzie mending his socks in solitude.
In the night when there's nobody there
Reference to the night, emphasizing the absence of others.
What does he care
Rhetorical question about Father McKenzie's concern for others.
All the lonely people
Repetition of the theme of loneliness.
Where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of lonely people, repeated.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the presence of lonely individuals, repeated.
Where do they all belong?
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong, repeated.
Ah look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Ah look at all the lonely people
-Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
Announcement of Eleanor Rigby's death in the church.
And was buried along with her name
Reference to Eleanor's burial and the neglect of her identity.
Nobody came
Description of the lack of attendees at Eleanor's funeral.
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
Depiction of Father McKenzie cleaning his hands after the burial.
From his hands as he walks from the grave
Reference to Father McKenzie walking away from the grave.
No one was saved
Assertion that no one was saved from the loneliness depicted.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the theme of loneliness.
Where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of lonely people, repeated.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the presence of lonely individuals, repeated.
Where do they all belong?
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong, repeated.
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