"Eleanor Rigby" tells the story of a woman who lives in a dream world and a priest, Father McKenzie, who feels isolated in his work. Both characters are lonely and crave connection with others, but ultimately die alone and unnoticed.

Meaning of "Eleanor Rigby" by Bobbie Gentry

"Eleanor Rigby" by Bobbie Gentry delves into the theme of loneliness and the struggle to find a sense of belonging in the world. Eleanor, a lonely woman, is seen picking up rice from a wedding in a church, showing her disconnect from joyous occasions. She hides behind a facade, symbolized by the "face she keeps in a jar by the door," unable to reveal her true self to others. Father McKenzie, on the other hand, is depicted as a priest writing sermons that go unheard, isolated and abandoned. The repeated questions in the chorus, "Where do they all come from? Where do they all belong?" highlight the universal struggle of finding meaning and connection in a world full of lonely individuals. The tragic ending, where both Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie die alone and unnoticed, speaks to the human condition of seeking companionship and understanding, only to be left unfulfilled in the end.