Eleanor Rigby
The Beatles＃ 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 (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
The song "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles is a melancholic ballad that mourns the plight of loneliness and isolation. The song initially starts with a rhetorical musing on "lonely people" and transitions to reveal two particular individuals, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, who arguably exemplify this sad state of being. Eleanor Rigby is a spinster who spends what remains of her life alone, buried in a particular brand of quiet desperation. She may have once had beauty and love, but she lives alone and now cleans the church in which she failed to find romantic companionship. The verse that speaks about her face being in a jar by the door suggests a facade she wears to help her get by. Father McKenzie, on the other hand, is found doing isolated work and drafting sermons that will seemingly never be heard by anyone, highlighting the theme of isolation in the lyrics. He also sews his own socks, suggesting his inability to rely on the support of others despite having a significant role in the community.
The song's chorus focuses on the larger thematic questions: where do all the lonely people come from, and where do they belong? It's a poignant question that continues to resonate with listeners today. The song ends on a tragic note with Eleanor Rigby's burial where "nobody came," and Father McKenzie "wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave" alone. Overall, "Eleanor Rigby" is a hauntingly beautiful song that brings attention to the human emotion of loneliness and the unfortunate reality of social isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah look at all the lonely people
Observation of the number of lonely people in the world.
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
Eleanor Rigby is collecting leftover rice after a wedding.
In the church where a wedding has been
The incident is happening in the church post a wedding ceremony.
Lives in a dream
Eleanor Rigby lives in a state of dreamy thoughts and illusions.
Waits at the window, wearing the face
Eleanor Rigby waits at the window, putting on a façade of being okay.
That she keeps in a jar by the door
She keeps her façade in a jar near her door, easily accessible for her.
Who is it for
This question is raised in relation to the façade Eleanor Rigby wears.
Father McKenzie, writing the words
Father McKenzie is busy writing his sermon notes.
Of a sermon that no one will hear
The sermon will go unheard by anyone.
No one comes near
Nobody is coming to church or to meet Father McKenzie.
Look at him working, darning his socks
Father McKenzie is engrossed in busywork to keep himself occupied.
In the night when there's nobody there
He works in the night when there's no one around.
What does he care
The line questions Father McKenzie's own worries and concerns.
Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
Eleanor Rigby died in the church.
And was buried along with her name
She died alone and forgotten, with her name also lost.
Nobody came
No one came to her funeral or to pay their respects.
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
Father McKenzie is shown coming from Eleanor Rigby's funeral.
From his hands as he walks from the grave
He wipes the dirt off his hands and walks away from the grave.
No one was saved
The line implies that both Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie were unable to help themselves from a life of loneliness despite their association with the church.
All the lonely people
A reference to everyone in the world who feels lonely.
Where do they all come from?
A question asking about the origin of loneliness.
Where do they all belong?
A question asking where lonely people fit in the world.
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
@estefaniagutierrezgaytan9745
Lyrics: (it’s for me, but if helps someone else here is:)
Ah, look at all the lonely people
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
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 (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
@Dragonking-fd1qv
Ah, look at all the lonely people
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
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 (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
@xenan7889
1962: She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah
1966: A Song About Dying And Being Forgotten
@stayoung80
Shows how much they evolved both as musicians and people.
@ArthurHGO1
Bob Dylan's influence
@apomorelli9580
Woahh
@jameskeane9721
Class A drugs change you. It's fantastic.
@bozman3974
Pressure causes things to crumble... same goes for humans
@milaanna444
love or hate the beatles you can’t deny this song is pure art.
@shianansen3896
yes u r right
@gaborpete
I used to hate them, I had thought they were boring to death, maybe intentionally boring, until I first heard and saw this song.
@Epsa_
How can anyone hate the Beatles tho fr