Eleanor Rigby
Echoes of Solitude: Unraveling the Loneliness in Pedro Guasti's Eleanor Rigby
Lyrics
Ah look at all the lonely people
Expressing empathy or sorrow for isolated individuals.
Ah look at all the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
Describing Eleanor Rigby's action of collecting rice after a wedding.
In the church where a wedding has been
Setting the scene in a church where a wedding took place.
Lives in a dream
Indicating that Eleanor Rigby lives in a dream-like state.
Waits at the window, wearing the face
Depicting Eleanor waiting at the window with a concealed facial expression.
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Describing the container (jar) where she keeps her face when not in use.
Who is it for
Raising the question of the purpose or intended audience of her preserved face.
All the lonely people
Pose a general question about the origins of lonely people.
Where do they all come from?
Express curiosity about the source of all lonely individuals.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Where do they all belong?
Pose a question about where lonely people belong.
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Introduce Father McKenzie, engaged in writing a sermon.
Of a sermon that no one will hear
Highlighting the futility of his sermon as no one will hear it.
No one comes near
Emphasizing the lack of proximity or connection to Father McKenzie.
Look at him working, darning his socks
Depicting Father McKenzie mending his socks in solitude at night.
In the night when there's nobody there
Setting the scene of isolation when nobody is present.
What does he care
Questioning Father McKenzie's concern or emotional state.
All the lonely people
Pose a general question about the origins of lonely people.
Where do they all come from?
Express curiosity about the source of all lonely individuals.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Where do they all belong?
Pose a question about where lonely people belong.
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
Announce the death of Eleanor Rigby in a church.
And was buried along with her name
Specify that she was buried with her name.
Nobody came
Highlight the lack of attendance or mourning for Eleanor.
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
Describe Father McKenzie cleaning his hands after leaving the grave.
From his hands as he walks from the grave
Emphasize the isolation of Father McKenzie as he walks away.
No one was saved
Indicate that no one was saved, possibly alluding to the ineffectiveness of religion.
All the lonely people
Pose a general question about the origins of lonely people.
Where do they all come from?
Express curiosity about the source of all lonely individuals.
All the lonely people
Reiteration of the observation of lonely people.
Where do they all belong?
Pose a question about where lonely people belong.
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