Song Information: “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles
- Album: Revolver
- A-side: “Yellow Submarine”
- Release Date: 5 August 1966
- Format: 7″
- Recorded: 28-29 April and 6 June 1966, EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Baroque pop, rock
- Duration: 2:06
- Label: Parlophone
- Writers: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- The Beatles Singles Chronology:
- “Paperback Writer” (1966)
- “Eleanor Rigby” / “Yellow Submarine” (1966)
- “Strawberry Fields Forever” / “Penny Lane” (1967)
About The Song
“Eleanor Rigby” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1966 album Revolver. It was also issued on a double A-side single, paired with “Yellow Submarine”. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney with significant lyrical contributions from John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney.
“Eleanor Rigby” is one of the most critically acclaimed songs in the Beatles’ catalog. It was praised for its innovative use of strings and its poignant lyrics about loneliness and isolation. The song was a commercial success, reaching number one in several countries.
The song’s narrative revolves around two lonely people, Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, who are both struggling to find connection with others. Eleanor is an elderly woman who lives a solitary life, while Father McKenzie is a priest who is struggling to find faith in his work.
The song’s lyrics are full of imagery that evokes the feeling of loneliness. For example, Eleanor is described as “picking up the rice in the church where a wedding has been” and “waiting at the window wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door.” Father McKenzie is described as “writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear” and “hauling his socks in the night when there’s no money.”
The song’s music is also evocative of the feeling of loneliness. The strings play a mournful melody, and the piano chords are sparse and dissonant. The song’s tempo is slow and deliberate, and the vocals are delivered in a hushed and introspective tone.
Despite its bleak subject matter, “Eleanor Rigby” is a song that ultimately offers a message of hope. The song suggests that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone. There is always someone else out there who is feeling the same way, and we can find solace in knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.
“Eleanor Rigby” is a powerful and moving song that has resonated with listeners for generations. It is a song about loneliness, but it is also a song about hope. It is a reminder that we are all connected, and that we can find strength in our shared humanity.