Eleanor Rigby
Exploring the Desolate Lives in 'Eleanor Rigby'
Lyrics
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Observation of the loneliness in people's lives
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of loneliness
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church
Eleanor Rigby collecting rice in the church, symbolic of a mundane, solitary task
Where the wedding has been-
Reference to a past wedding
Lives in a dream
Eleanor Rigby lives in a dream, possibly indicating an emotional detachment from reality
Waits at the window, wearing a face that
Eleanor waits at the window with a preserved face, suggesting a facade or hidden emotions
She keeps in a jar by the door- who is it for
Questioning the purpose of the preserved face
All the lonely people where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of lonely people
All the lonely people where do they all belong
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong
Father Mckenzie,writing the words of a sermon
Introduction of Father Mckenzie, a clergyman, writing a sermon that goes unheard
That no-one will hear- no-one comes near
Highlighting the isolation of Father Mckenzie
Look at him working,darning his socks in the
Depiction of Father Mckenzie's mundane task of darning socks
Night when there's nobody there- what does he care?
Emphasizing Father Mckenzie's loneliness during the night
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of all lonely people
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong, echoing line 9
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried
Death of Eleanor Rigby in the church and her burial, symbolizing a lonely end
Along with her name- nobody came
Narration of Eleanor's funeral with no attendees
Father Mckenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands
Father Mckenzie cleaning his hands after the burial, possibly feeling unfulfilled
As he walks from the grave- no-one was saved
Emphasis on the lack of salvation or help for anyone
All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
Rhetorical question about the origin of all lonely people, repeating line 8
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?
Rhetorical question about the place where lonely people belong, repeating line 9
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of loneliness
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Final reiteration of the observation of loneliness
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