The song was primarily written by Paul McCartney, although John Lennon claimed that "the first verse was his and the rest are basically mine." Pete Shotton, a close friend of Lennon who was present at the time, said "Though John (whose memory could be extremely erratic) was to take credit, in one of his last interviews, for most of the lyrics, my own recollection is that 'Eleanor Rigby' was one 'Lennon-McCartney' classic in which John's contribution was virtually nil." McCartney also says that Lennon helped on about "half a line."
Ringo Starr contributed the line "Father MacKenzie/ Writing the words to a sermon that no one will hear", while George Harrison came up with the idea for the backing vocal "Look at all the lonely people".
It remains one of The Beatles' most recognizable and unique songs, with a double string quartet arrangement by George Martin, and striking lyrics about loneliness. It was also the first song on which none of the Beatles played their instruments; while they sang on the track, the only actual instruments were played by the session musicians who played Martin's score.
The song continued the transformation of the group, started in Rubber Soul, from a mainly pop-oriented act to a more serious and experimental studio band.
=Cover versions=
Caetano Veloso: Eleanor Rigby
Beth Thornley : Eleanor Rigby
Pain : Eleanor Rigby
Booker T. & The MG's : Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
The Beatles 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 (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 tells the story of two lonely people, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, who lead empty lives without connection or purpose. The song begins by painting a picture of Eleanor Rigby, a woman who "picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been" and "waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door." These images suggest that Eleanor is a lonely woman who spends her days doing menial tasks and hiding her true self from the world. The chorus then poses a question: "All the lonely people, where do they all come from? / All the lonely people, where do they all belong?" This question highlights the theme of loneliness that runs throughout the song.
The second verse shifts the focus to Father McKenzie, a man who "writes the words of a sermon that no one will hear" and "darns his socks in the night when there's nobody there." These details suggest that Father McKenzie is also a lonely figure who spends his days performing thankless tasks for an absent congregation. The chorus repeats before the song returns to Eleanor Rigby, who has died and is buried "along with her name" without anyone to mourn her passing. Father McKenzie is shown wiping the dirt from his hands as he leaves the gravesite, still alone and unable to save anyone.
The song's simple melody and catchy chorus have made it one of The Beatles' most popular and enduring hits, but its touching lyrics and melancholy tone also make it a powerful commentary on the human experience. "Eleanor Rigby" speaks to the isolation and disconnection that many people feel in modern society, as well as the search for meaning and connection that drives us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Observing the many people who are struggling with loneliness and social isolation.
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?
Describing a lonely woman, Eleanor Rigby, who acts as a church custodian and lives her life in isolation while wondering who she is trying to impress with her appearance.
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Reflecting on the prevalence of loneliness and the struggles that many people have with feeling like they do not fit in or have a place in society.
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?
Depicting a lonely priest, Father McKenzie, who is committed to his work despite the fact that nobody comes to his sermons, and who is left to handle his own chores in isolation.
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
Telling the sad story of how the lonely Eleanor Rigby died alone and was buried by Father McKenzie, who also had nobody to mourn her death or comfort him in his grief.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
Yet another splendid Beatles song.
@FormulaJuann
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?
@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?
@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
@FormulaJuann
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?
@Zabrack782
Thanks for that
@sarinsanyal1148
Imagine a band that can go from something like 'I wanna hold your hand....' to this masterpiece....in 3 years...