The Supremes were a hugely successful Motown all-female singing group active from 1959 until 1977, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway showtunes, psychedelia and disco. Second only to The Beatles in terms of records sales and chart success, The Supremes were the most successful American musical act of the 1960s, delivering twelve #1 hits between 1964 and 1969, many of them written and produced by Motown's main songwriting and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1959, The Supremes began as a quartet called The Primettes. Founding members Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, and Betty McGlown, all from the Brewster-Douglas public housing project in Detroit, were the sister act to The Primes (later The Temptations). In 1960, Barbara Martin replaced McGlown, and the group signed with Motown in 1961 as The Supremes.
Martin left at the end of 1961, and Ross, Ballard, and Wilson carried on as a trio. After they achieved success in 1964 with Ross as the lead singer, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1967. Ballard left the group that same year because of personal differences and was replaced by Cindy Birdsong.
Diana Ross left the group for a history-making solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell. After 1972, the lineup of The Supremes changed frequently, with Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene all becoming members before the group ended its eighteen-year existence in 1977.
Eleanor Rigby
Diana Ross and the Supremes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, look at all the lonely people
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
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?
"Eleanor Rigby" is a hauntingly poignant song by Diana Ross and the Supremes. The lyrics describe two characters: Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, both of whom live in solitude and are searching for meaning in their lives. Eleanor Rigby, who lives in a dream, picks up rice at a church where a wedding has taken place. She waits at the window, wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door, but who is it for?
Father McKenzie, on the other hand, writes a sermon that no one will hear, and he spends his nights darning his socks when there's nobody there. As the song progresses, the listener finds out that Eleanor Rigby dies and is buried in the churchyard along with her name. No one attends her funeral except for Father McKenzie, who wipes the dirt from his hands as he walks away from the grave. The song makes a statement about loneliness and the human condition in general, which often involves searching for meaning and purpose while feeling alone and isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, look at all the lonely people
The song is about loneliness and how common it is in society.
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Eleanor Rigby is a lonely person who spends her time doing menial tasks like picking up rice from a recent wedding.
Lives in a dream
Despite her lonely existence, Eleanor lives in a world of fantasy and imagination.
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Eleanor waits anxiously by the window, hiding behind a mask that she keeps close to the door.
Who is it for
Eleanor questions the purpose of her loneliness and who it is meant to serve.
Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
Father McKenzie is a lonely priest who spends his time writing sermons that no one will ever hear.
No one comes near
Despite his proximity to the church, Father McKenzie is unable to find companionship or comfort there.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
Father McKenzie is so alone that he spends his time alone, repairing his own socks in the dark hours of the night.
What does he care
Father McKenzie is so lonely that he no longer cares about his own well-being or the lives of others.
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was buried along with her name
Eleanor Rigby's loneliness was so profound that she died alone in the church, without anyone to mourn or remember her name.
Nobody came
Eleanor's death went unnoticed and unmarked, without anyone to pay tribute to her lonely existence.
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
Father McKenzie presides over Eleanor's lonely funeral, but is unable to find any solace or comfort in the duties he performs.
No one was saved
The song serves as a warning about the dangers of loneliness and the importance of human connection in preserving our mental and emotional health.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Stewart
Exquisite! Diana Ross always is top notch.
Pam Reasor
Sounds nice! Must have made the Beatles proud!
Brian Woods
When I first heard Diana sing this back then I may have been real young but I always knew a great sound when I heard it or to be explicit a good singer even then I said after Diana sang Eleanor Rigby I said this lady can sing anything thrown in front of her, and she sang this song and made it hers
Brutha Dnubian
I was really really young,about 4 months old 🤣
The Supremes Archive
Second 😂
This is my favorite version of "Eleanor Rigby" it suited well to Diana's voice.
SAM The SHAM
The Supremes Archive l agree. l was 13 when l saw and heard THIS version..l fell in love with Diana Ross voice AND said the same thing you said..Best version of this song. Far better than the Beatles. Notice she is sitting on the stage..Fast fwd to Fantasia performing Summertime Sitting on the stage on American Idol. I swear they Stole it from this performance. It was a Huge reason in helping Her win the American Idol. Fastasia eyes even resembled Diana's from this performance. Compare both performance and you will see the similar moves and gestures.
motownbaby
Oh wow! Love this version!!!
Dj Tyree
Best version ever
Dtrn254
Legend Beyond....
Graham Simpson
This is awsome