Eleanor Rigby: The Song Analysis Of Eleanor Rigby

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“I don’t like supposing that somebody like Jesus was alive now and pretending and imagining what he’d do. But if he was Jesus and he held that he was the real Jesus that had the same views as before – well, Eleanor Rigby wouldn’t mean that much to him.” (John Lennin) Eleanor Rigby Is justifiably known as one of the Beetles most timeless compositions to this date. This song marked a shift in the optimism of the Beatles “happy go lucky” tune in their previous works, and in its place it presented an almost dark cynical feel. Written by Paul McCartney and produced by George Lennin; Eleanor Rigby was composed in the basement of John Asher’s family home on Wimpole Street, London. Initially this song was alleged to be a love ballad, but that quickly translated into a melodic tune about the loneliness that takes place in the lives of two people.
The song begins with a recurrence of the verse “look at all the lonely people.” This creates emphasis on the subject being discussed, solidarity. The intent of this repetition was to exaggerate the loneliness that is prevalent in the world. The narrators of the song desire to highlight the loneliness that he experiences in the faces of those around him. The beetles have an aura of unity when singing this verse by using the word “all” when referring to the people. “All” can be seen as a hyperbole since it is used as an exaggeration intended to bring attention to the plight of those suffering, from the desolate feel of being alone in a “sea of people.” The purpose of this hyperbole makes loneliness the great equalizer, it does not see ethnicity or gender rather destitution strikes everyone.
“Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice In the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream waits at the win...

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...n this song was being composed, the Beatles did not know the impact that it would have on their audience. “There was no plan behind this song, it just happened”(John Lennin) Many critics would call it an unplanned masterpiece. McCartney says that the story that was painted for millions to view was nothing more than his imagination. The Beatles wanted to take their listeners on a journey of post- war Britain. They wanted the audience to feel the pain that women and children felt after they lost there loved ones to the war. Often called a ballad to “lament the lonely”, this song has become much more than an ode. Unknown to the Beatles the new sound of “Eleanor Rigby” would be important to their evolution in the POP genre. “I think Eleanor Rigby was a very important musical move forward. It certainly inspired me to listen to more songs in that vein.”(Pete Townshend)

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