Eleanor Rigby
Caetano Veloso Lyrics


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Eleanor Rigby
Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window
Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie
Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working
Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby
Died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie
Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks on the grave
No one was saved

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Eleanor Rigby
Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window
Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?




All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Eleanor Rigby" by Caetano Veloso speak of the loneliness and isolation experienced by different individuals in society. The song revolves around two characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie. Eleanor Rigby is described as a woman who picks up the rice after a wedding ceremony and lives a life of solitude, wearing a face she keeps in a jar by the door. She waits at the window, dreaming of a better life but never finding it. The question "Who is it for?" highlights her struggle with feeling unrecognized and unimportant.


The second character, Father McKenzie, is depicted as a man writing a sermon that no one will hear because no one comes near. He spends the night alone, darning his socks, and caring for no one but himself. The chorus of "All the lonely people, where do they all come from? Where do they all belong?" emphasizes the ubiquitous nature of loneliness in society.


The song ends on a melancholy note, with Eleanor Rigby dying alone in a church and being buried without any mourners. Father McKenzie walks away from her grave, "wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks on the grave," underscoring the bleakness of the situation.


Overall, "Eleanor Rigby" is a heartbreaking portrayal of loneliness and isolation in society. It highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing every individual, as well as the need for human connection and a sense of belonging.


Line by Line Meaning

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Eleanor Rigby is at the church picking up the leftover rice from a wedding, symbolizing her loneliness and lack of a romantic partner


Lives in a dream
Eleanor lives in a daydream, longing for something more


Waits at the window
Eleanor often waits by the window, hoping for someone to come and take her away from her loneliness


Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door, who is it for?
Eleanor wears a persona to hide her true self, and she does not know who this persona is for


All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
The artist is questioning where all the lonely people come from, highlighting their seemingly limitless existence


Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear, no one comes near
Father McKenzie, like many people, feels lonely and isolated in his life and work, as no one seems to be listening to him or connect with him


Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there, what does he care?
Father McKenzie doesn't let his loneliness get in the way of his work, but the singer questions whether he truly cares or whether his actions are just a coping mechanism


Ah, look at all the lonely people
The artist points out the abundance of lonely people in society, often overlooked and ignored


Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name, nobody came
Eleanor passed away alone, and no one came to her funeral, highlighting the tragic effects of loneliness and isolation


Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks on the grave, no one was saved
Father McKenzie, despite his religious work, couldn't save Eleanor or any others like her, leaving a feeling of hopelessness in his wake




Lyrics © editionPlus Verlags GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Leão do Norte

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working. 
Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Aah, look at all the lonely people
Aah, look at all the lonely people
Aah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name...
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

... solo ...

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?



Rosana Franz

Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
In the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks
In the night when there's nobody there
What does he care
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah look at all the lonely people
Ah look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
And was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
From his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?



All comments from YouTube:

leitinhomarginal

Não entendo os fanzinhos revoltados de beatles, na boa eu adoro beatles, mas essa versão ficou muito foda. É eleanor rigby bossa nova, muito genial.

ifarias2000

Quando o genial Caetano resolve interpretar o MAIOR FENÔMENO MUSICAL DE TODOS OS TEMPOS, só pode ficar assim: M A R A V I L H O S O... (Beatles forever)...

Fernando Ferdinand

SIEMPRE QUE ESCUCHO A CAETANO ES COMO ESTAR EN OTROS TIEMPOS OTROS LUGARES OTRAS VIDAS ES INCREIBLE QUIZAS EL ALMA NO CONOCE ESAS DISTANCIAS LO VEO POR LA INDIA INGLATERRA POR AMERICA HAY DIOS ES COMO DECIA HACE TIEMPO SERA UN GNOMO....

Yolanda Delgado

Hermosa versión al inigualable estilo de Caetano Veloso......!!!!!! la guitarra y el bajo maravillosos...

LUCIANO PITA

Essa é a versão que os Beatles queriam ter gravado. Caetano genial

Jefferson Cardoso

Caetano Caetanisou Eleanor Rigby !!! não que a versão tenha ficado melhor ou pior, ficou única, incomparável, singular... Só Caetano mesmo. top top top

Sociedade em Rede: o Presente como História.

Perfeito...sem comparação. É uma homenagem ele ter feito uma versão, escolheu bem - e deu sotaque baiano.

Marcelo Arruda

Você tem razão: FICOU SINGULAR, TALVES SINGULARÍSSIMA,  essa versão da música do Paul e John que o gênio da terra Caetano Veloso nos ofertou...

Tiago Caiola

estava precisamente a pensar qual a versão que mais gosto. mas a questão devia ser "que versão mais gosto agora!" :)

Ana Luiza

Esta versão e a da Cássia Eller são demais!

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