Christopher Estrada

MUS 5303, SP2017

Analyses 3: To Be or Not to Be Eleanor Rigby

The song Eleanor Rigby is an original song first released by the Beatles in 1966. The song was written by

Paul McCartney with contributions from John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and their friend Pete Shotton. 1

The producer George Martin contributed to the recording by composing the string quartet parts. 2 In 1969, soul music

artist Aretha Franklin released a cover of the song as a 7, 45 RPM single. 3 That two iconic artists could make a

recording within a few years of each other and still be successful with it stems from the common origins between

soul and rock. Rhythm and Blues was a very large influence on Franklin as well as McCartney. The rhythms found

in both versions are driving and have a pulse. Even though the Beatles version does not have drums, it has the pulse

provided by the lower strings. It is in the of the voice and instrumentation where the most obvious differences

between the two styles are present. All throughout the 1960s, songs that would sell the most featured a pulse which

drove the music no matter which genre or form was used.

The two versions follow the same basic form with three verse/chorus sections; 2 verses each followed by a

brief chorus then a refrain before a final verse. Before the first verse is sung, the refrain Ah look at all the lonely

people is sung as an introduction in the Beatles version. In the Franklin version she skips this refrain and starts

right on the first verse. The accompanying music is very different in each version. The Beatles version uses strings

only and vocal harmonization. The Franklin version uses a more traditional soul sound with drums, electric bass,

electric guitar, keyboard/organ and background vocalists singing impacts. Each version is an example of how rock

and soul music each challenged the concept of what was popular at the time. The Beatles version is adventurous

because of the absence of the RocknRoll sound, (electric guitars, drum set) and their choice of classical strings

and simple vocal harmony in its place. The 1960s, especially the latter part of the decade, was known as the season

of love by many people and the theme of loneliness was in contrast. The Franklin version was adventurous because

it took a very popular song and changed the perspective of one of the characters in the song. Since Franklin herself

began her career as a gospel artist, singing about the loneliness of a priest and woman of faith from the first person

perspective was a powerful act. It gave the song a sense of personal connection to Franklin that her audience could

connect with. Each version shows its own authenticity for each artist through the subtle ways their messages differ.

1 Turner (2005)

2 Pollack (1994)

3 Lewandowski (2000)
 Christopher Estrada
MUS 5303, SP2017

The first two verses of the song in each version focus on a character. The first being Eleanor Rigby, a

woman who is lonely and can be seen picking up the rice at a church where a wedding has been. In the Beatles

version they are singing as if telling a story about Rigby, but in the Franklin version she sings from the perspective

of Rigby. Franklin leaves out the phrase lives in a dream possibly in order to establish a connection to the present.

Then she repeats Im Eleanor Rigby in order to confirm the singers identity as the character. She ends the first

verse asking the listener You want to know what is it for? referring to the face in a jar by the window. The

Beatles version ends the first verse asking WHO is it for? The difference between WHO and WHAT is an

indicator of perspective. In the Beatles version Rigby wears the face in the jar FOR someone, possibly a symbol

for the face she uses to try and meet someone to be with alluding to Rigbys need to be with someone. In the

Franklin version there is no connotation that she wears it for someone, but instead for a purpose. This purpose is

unknown but it takes the question of HOW is the face really used when she wears it into consideration.
The second verse focuses on Father McKenzie, a priest with seemingly no congregation to hear his sermon.

In the Beatles version he is found darning his socks in the night when theres nobody there. This lyric points out

that the character is alone and must repair his worn clothing. It is the same in the Franklin version, however she

omits the line when theres nobody there. The message here is different than in the Beatles version because the

possibility of him having someone with him at home is not addressed. The listener could gather that the Priest does

not have much of a congregation but maybe has a wife at home. In some religions, priests are allowed to marry and

have families of their own. The final lyric of the second verse asks What does he care? as if pointing out the

futility of taking care of himself although there is no one to see the disrepair his clothes have fallen into.

(clothes=life in the Beatles version and congregation in the Franklin version)

Each version paints the same picture with the first two verses that these two individuals are living a lonely

existence and the third verse brings the two together at the funeral for Rigby. In each version no one came to Rigbys

funeral and the Priest walks away alone wiping dirt off of his hands. In the Beatles version the song ends with the

refrain being sung over the chorus in a contrapuntal style.4 In the Franklin version it ends with an upbeat out-chorus

where she not only asks about the lonely people, but includes a statement not in the original. She sings only the

lonely know as if inferring that only those who are lonely can understand the feeling. She gives those listeners who

may be feeling lonely hope that even through their loneliness, they are not alone in having those feelings. The

Beatles version leaves it unsettled with a question and thus gives a feeling of longing and possibly desperation.

4 Turner (2005)
 Christopher Estrada
MUS 5303, SP2017

As a listener, I find both very pleasing aesthetically for different reasons. The Beatles version appeals to

the classical musician in me that connects with the strings and minor harmonies present throughout. It creates a

pleasant melancholy feeling that allows me to withdraw into myself and find those parts of myself where I feel

alone. In contrast when I hear the Franklin version, with its funky drums, bass, and guitar/organ groove, it motivates

me to keep going. Although the message is similar in the Franklin version, the ending gives me a sense of

connection to all the others who feel that way. It helps to think that no matter how lonely I feel sometimes, there is

someone (Franklin) out there who feels the same and we are connected. The significance of each piece is in the

emotions that can be felt when listening. Soul and Rock are both emotionally dense genres and can express the same

emotions using different sounding music. Whether coming from one of the greatest rock bands or one of the greatest

soul artists, the message of the music and the connection with the listener are what determine authenticity.

Bibliography
Turner, S. (2005) A hard day's write: The stories behind every Beatles song. London: Seven Oaks.
Pollack, A. (1994) Notes on "Eleanor Rigby". Notes on ... Series no. 93. The 'Official' rec.music.beatles Home Page

(http://www.recmusicbeatles.com).
Lewandowski, K. (2000). Aretha Franklin - Eleanor Rigby/It Ain't Fair. Retrieved from Discogs.com:

https://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Eleanor-Rigby-It-Aint-Fair/release/1206642