Eleanor Rigby

"Eleanor Rigby" is one of the most famous and influential songs by The Beatles. It tells the story of two lonely people, Eleanor Rigby and Father MacKenzie, who come together too late. From Wikipedia: 

Though "Eleanor Rigby" was not the first pop song to deal with death and loneliness, according to Ian MacDonald it "came as quite a shock to pop listeners in 1966." It took a bleak message of depression and desolation, written by a famous pop band, with a sombre, almost funeral-like backing, to the number one spot of the pop charts. The bleak lyrics were not The Beatles' first deviation from love songs, but were some of the most explicit.

Paul, John, Ringo, and their friend Pete Shotton all contributed to the lyrics, and John, Paul, and George all sing vocals, but this song is one of the few in which none of the Beatles play instruments. Instead, George Martin arranged two string quartets with microphones very close to the instruments, giving the song a "raw" sound. From Wikipedia:

With a double string quartet arrangement by George Martin, and striking lyrics about loneliness, the song continued the transformation of the group from a mainly pop-oriented act to a more experimental studio-based band.

Apparently there are real-life parallels for the names Paul thought up for the characters. He originally named the priest "Father McCartney" but was persuaded to change it to avoid suggesting his own father. Also, in the cemetery where John and Paul first met, grave markers with the names Eleanor Rigby as well as a MacKenzie can be found; Paul acknowledged that these stones could have subconsciously influenced his choice of names.

This is definitely one I've heard before, and it's rather depressing, but beautiful. I think the opening, with the violins, violas, and cellos matching flawlessly with the guys' harmonies, is particularly striking. Overall, this haunting tune is one of the Beatles' best.

That's all for today... See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 20
Songs Completed: 105