He acted in a number of roles in British TV and film, including the part of Adam in the TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth and the part of Carter in Nemesis.
He acted as the Narrator in the original London production of the Rocky Horror Show, but he is more famous for portraying the part of Dr. Everett Von Scott in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
He died in London, England of a stroke at the age of 74.
Eleanor Rigby
Jonathan Adams 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?
Jonathan Adams's song "Eleanor Rigby" tells the story of two lonely people, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, who live in their own isolated worlds. Eleanor Rigby is an old woman who spends her days picking up rice in a church after a wedding ceremony. She lives in a dream world and keeps a figurative mask on her face in a jar by the door. The song asks the question "Who is it for?" as there doesn't seem to be anyone visiting her or needing her in her life.
Father McKenzie is a preacher who writes sermons that go unheard by anyone. When he's alone at night, he spends his time darning his socks. He seems indifferent to his own life as the chorus of the song repeats the question "Where do they all belong?"
The song's message is a powerful commentary on the loneliness and isolation that people can experience in society. Two people living separate lives are connected by their shared struggle of loneliness, showing the need for human connection and the value of reaching out to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah look at all the lonely people
There are so many isolated individuals in society
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
Eleanor Rigby is cleaning up after a wedding that she did not attend
In the church where a wedding has been
The location where the aforementioned wedding ceremony took place
Lives in a dream
Eleanor Rigby is lost in her own imagination and disconnected from reality
Waits at the window, wearing the face
Eleanor Rigby waits and puts on a facade for society
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Eleanor Rigby keeps her mask in a jar, symbolizing the distance between her inner self and her outward persona
Who is it for
Eleanor Rigby is questioning the purpose of her facade
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Father McKenzie is composing a message, but nobody is there to hear it
Of a sermon that no one will hear
The words being written by Father McKenzie will go unheard
No one comes near
Father McKenzie is all alone with nobody to listen to him
Look at him working, darning his socks
Father McKenzie is so isolated that he must do his own clothing repairs
In the night when there's nobody there
Father McKenzie is all alone in the evening
What does he care
Father McKenzie is questioning the value of his work as nobody seems to appreciate it
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
Eleanor Rigby passed away in the church she frequented
And was buried along with her name
Eleanor Rigby's identity was synonymous with her loneliness
Nobody came
Nobody attended Eleanor Rigby's funeral
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
Father McKenzie is clearing soil from his hands after the burial
From his hands as he walks from the grave
Father McKenzie is departing from the grave
No one was saved
Father McKenzie was not successful in saving anyone from their loneliness
All the lonely people
A reference to the entire group of isolated individuals
Where do they all come from?
Jonathan Adams questions how such a large population of lonely individuals arises
Where do they all belong?
Jonathan Adams considers how to help lonely individuals find connection and community
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