Eleanor Rigby
Joe Torres Lyrics
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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?
The lyrics to Joe Torres's song 'Eleanor Rigby' are a poignant commentary on the melancholic experiences of loneliness and solitude that can plague people in society. The two characters of the song, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, both lead lonely and unfulfilling lives, and the song highlights their struggles.
Eleanor Rigby is introduced in the first stanza as a woman who picks up rice in the church where a wedding has been. She lives in a "dream" and "waits at the window," wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door. The song questions, "Who is it for?" suggesting that this facade could be to attract anyone or nobody. This line emphasizes how loneliness can cause people to create facades to construct a persona that pleases others instead of themselves. The chorus, "All the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?" encapsulates the theme of social isolation expressed throughout the song. The second verse centers around Father McKenzie, who writes a sermon that no one will hear, and nobody comes near him. He is presented darning his socks alone in the night, caring little about whether anyone is there to share life with.
The final verse is the most sad and depressing part of the song. Eleanor Rigby dies and is buried in the church with no one present, whereas Father McKenzie is the only person who cares enough to wipe the dirt from his hands as he walks from her grave. The song ends highlighting that nobody was saved, and it again questions where all the lonely people come from, and where do they belong? The final words contain an air of existential dread that indicates that maybe there is no answer to those questions.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah look at all the lonely people
Joe Torres points out and sympathizes with the lonely people in society.
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
Eleanor Rigby works hard in the church, cleaning up after a wedding.
In the church where a wedding has been
The setting of the story is in a Church, where Eleanor Rigby works.
Lives in a dream
Eleanor Rigby is lost in her own thoughts and imagination.
Waits at the window, wearing the face
Eleanor Rigby is constantly waiting and putting on a facade when people come to the door.
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Eleanor Rigby’s face in the jar by the door represents the mask she puts on to hide her true emotions.
Who is it for
Eleanor Rigby is unsure who the face is for and what it is protecting.
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Father McKenzie writes sermons for the Church but no one listens.
Of a sermon that no one will hear
Father McKenzie's sermons go unheard and unnoticed by his congregation.
No one comes near
Father McKenzie is alone and nobody reaches out to him.
Look at him working, darning his socks
Father McKenzie works alone, mending his socks with no company or companionship.
In the night when there's nobody there
Father McKenzie is alone in the night with nobody around him.
What does he care
Father McKenzie has learned to accept his solitude and does not let it affect him anymore.
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
Eleanor Rigby's life ended where it revolved around, in the church.
And was buried along with her name
Eleanor Rigby died, and her name is the only thing left to remember her by.
Nobody came
Nobody was there for Eleanor Rigby in her final moments.
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
Father McKenzie finishes the burial of Eleanor Rigby.
From his hands as he walks from the grave
Father McKenzie carries on and leaves the grave site.
No one was saved
Both Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie were victims of loneliness, and society failed to help them.
All the lonely people
The line is repeated, calling to attention society's most vulnerable people.
Where do they all come from?
Joe Torres questions the origin of loneliness and why so many people feel this way.
Where do they all belong?
Joe Torres asks the difficult question of where these lonely people fit in society.
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