offer snapshots of the lives of Eleanor Rigby and Fr. McKenzie; a refrain flows ...
For rock, this is a completely novel instrumentation; for popular music, this is a ...
EExxaam mppllee 77..44:: EElleeaannoorr RRiiggbbyy,, TThhee BBeeaattlleess ((11996666)) Bac kgr o und "Eleanor Rigby," recorded in June 1966, for the album Revolver, broke sharply with pop song conventions in both words and music. The story—about an unlamented death—is bleak, and the narrator presents with a detachment as rare in popular music as the subject. The unusual musical accompaniment—a string octet instead of a rock band—and the long melodic sighs and static harmony help convey the depressing mood of the song in music.
Tim ed li ste ni ng gui de «Eleanor Rigby» has not one but two refrains. The heart of the song is a straightforward verse/chorus form: the three verses offer snapshots of the lives of Eleanor Rigby and Fr. McKenzie; a refrain flows directly from each verse. In addition, a more emphatic statement of the main theme of the song—lonely people—occurs at the beginning of the song, after the second verse, and at the end, as counterpoint to the minor refrain. (Below, the more emphatic refrain is identified as «major,» while the refrain that follows each verse is identified as «minor»; the designation has to do with their impact, not their key.) 0:00
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Major Refrain Ah, look at all the lonely people… Verse 1 Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice…
Minor Refrain All the lonely people…
The harmony underneath the melody is almost completely static; there is one main chord and a shift to a contrasting chord.
The countermelody in the cello highlights the appearance of the minor refrain.
Verse 2 Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon…
Minor Refrain All the lonely people…
The strings strongly mark the beat, much as a rhythm section would. The syncopated rhythm of the melody bounces off this steady beat. More active lines map onto a rock rhythm.
As before
Major Refrain Ah, look at all the lonely people…
This more emphatic version of the refrain gains power by being placed after the minor refrain.
Verse 3
Eleanor Rigby died in the church 1:48
The melodic curve is an amplified sigh.
The string accompaniment is more active—almost nervous.
Major & Minor Ref rains
All the lonely people…
The final statement of this refrain includes the major refrain melody as counterpoint.
Key fe at ur es Bleak lyrics
A song about seemingly pointless lives, told in an emotionally detached manner.
String g roup as rock band novel way of playing strings.
For rock, this is a completely novel instrumentation; for popular music, this is a completely
Port raying misery musically The long melodic sighs, static harmony, and restless string accompaniment amplify the mood of the lyric; it captures the desperate lives of Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie.
