How The Beatles Made “Eleanor Rigby”

[@akwilson1676]

And they say Paul could only write silly love songs.

[@guywebster8018]

I see what you did there LMAO

[@notveryfunnylukas419]

What did he do?

[@rudrparmar1686]

Well more than 50%of the lyrics was written by john,George,ringo and some friend of lennon but I get your point

[@sharmisthachakraborty287]

@@rudrparmar1686 who said that ? lennon later said it was paul's baby and lennon's friend said he had absolutely nothing to do with the song..harrison just had the ah look at all the lonely people, and ringo suggested some paul's changes...the lyrics are majorly written by mccartney

[@rudrparmar1686]

@@sharmisthachakraborty287 well just do some research and you will get to know that some one liners of eleanor rigby were written by george and ringo and some help from pete shotton and paul says john wrote 20%of the lyrics

[@philisgram7780]

Eleanor Rigby is one of my favourite songs,it helps me feel like I belong somewhere when I'm drowning in my loneliness...Thank you so much for making this,I've been waiting for it for so long💙

[@warrenbaldwin7835]

It is amazing to me how Paul McCartney can take ordinary, mundane things of life, and write a compelling song about them. Eleanor Rigby is one example, Another Day is another. He is a true artist who can see the story behind the simple events.

[@connorlanganmakesmusic]

I think its very like little susie by michael jackson

[@maltipillai4553]

My fav too. During our school farewell. I sang the song

[@Missjunebugfreak]

I adore this song! The string arrangement, in particular, is one of the most haunting and gorgeous melodies I've ever heard which perfectly mirrors the lonesomeness in the message of the song. Also some of Paul's best lyrics. Great video. Hope you're enjoying your week.

[@eleonorapisarova6413]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@iracknads]

You mean you Theodor Adorno this song, LMMFAO!

[@andrewj4190]

John Lennon said he wrote 80% of the lyrics.

[@DrDolan2000]

Anyone else a fan of Revolver? ✋

[@scottallison2296]

my favourite Beatles album

[@filip76uk17]

I’ll listen to it

[@pinterestringo]

Filip 76uk so ? How was it

[@hypefinn3054]

✋🏼

[@4thamendment237]

Their best album. For quality and diversity, the range of songs is such that it is hard to believe that just one band produced all of them.

[@jk4675]

George Harrison came up with the "Ah, look at all the lonely people" hook.

[@killval849]

doesn't surprise me. his contributions are immense.

[@Ace-Of-Spades-01]

You are correct. George Harrison wrote the Chorus for Eleanor Rigby. It’s a shame that he didn’t get any credit for that song.

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

Wikipedia gets pretty detailed about who wrote what. "McCartney wrote the melody and first verse alone, after which he presented the song to the Beatles when they were gathered in the music room of John Lennon's home at Kenwood.[19] Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton all listened to McCartney play his song through and contributed ideas.[20] Harrison came up with the "Ah, look at all the lonely people" hook. Starr contributed the line "writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear" and suggested making "Father McCartney" darn his socks, which McCartney liked.[20] It was then that Shotton suggested that McCartney change the name of the priest, in case listeners mistook the fictional character for McCartney's own father.[21] McCartney could not decide how to end the song, and Shotton suggested that the two lonely people come together too late as Father McKenzie conducts Eleanor Rigby's funeral. At the time, Lennon rejected the idea out of hand, but McCartney said nothing and used the idea, later acknowledging Shotton's help.[20] In Lennon's recollection, the final touches were applied to the lyrics in the recording studio,[22] at which point McCartney sought input from Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans, the Beatles' longstanding road managers.[23][24]"

[@maximus5060]

This style is beautiful. Thank you for making this wonderful video.

[@xela8384]

That's a lovely appreciation, thank you. Sometime in the mid-70s, when I was 13 or 14, a friend put side one of _Revolver_ on, and a week or so later it became the first LP I ever bought with my own money. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but it was the Parlophone mono pressing, which the guy who ran our local record store preferred. So now I'm going to dig my turntable out of the closet and listen to side one on vinyl for the first time in 20 years!

[@PeKe999]

One of Paul's best songs.

[@ujalaazhar9589]

I honestly don't believe much in lennon's side of certain stories..

[@Xavier_Creighton]

Why is that?

[@barkertiude]

No, John Lennon was kind of egotistical to be honest

[@patriceaqa288]

@@barkertiude He was egotistical but actually a nice guy. His assassin hesistated in killing him when John very nicey signed his record and said something complimentary as he strolled off, he thought 'I'm about to kill a really nice guy'

[@ewest14]

Especially when his own friend, Pete Shotten, said he did nothing

[@arlene8938]

​@@patriceaqa288nice guy???abandoning child, have a mistress!!!yeah a nice guy said by a noce guy too huh!!!

[@dougbennett8592]

I'm sure that we all can relate to blowing our minds in the dark with a pipe full of clay!

[@Aramanth]

The fact that the only music in the song is a stirring string ensemble is so evocative of the loneliness of the lyrics.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Eleanor Rigby is an amazing work of art in so many ways.

[@nelsonsoto741]

To me, the most powerful line is “wearing the face which she keeps in a jar by the door”…..her face is a reflection, which if glimpsed by others , is ethereal, non graspable, the jar is a metaphor for her existence , empty and fragile. Some of the best of Beatle lyrics. Too real.

[@jjmarz1001]

Paul has said that this line came from a lonely old lady he would visit (and help) that would put makeup on her face. The jar by the door is the lady's foundation for her face.

[@marklimbrick]

There is no reason to suppose more than the most literal meaning. The jar for keys and loose change by the door. So ready for random callers is a false composed face. If you want to extend to metaphor of how we face life, well if it suits you. But just a convenient ryhme. Paul got scholarship to Liverpool Institute (grammer school) not TS Eliot.

[@ibarrybenson8722]

Your video essays on the beatles continue to feed my fab four geekiness bro. Keep up the good work :) u deff deserve more subs

[@julianray]

I love the sensitivity you bring to everyone of your "Love Letters". Truly have enjoyed discovering your channel and your work. Thank you and please keep creating.

[@tori2dles]

Sometimes it’s hard to go through those more contentious bits between John & Paul, especially when it’s the backdrop of some of their most iconic pieces. You just feel such pain and I don’t know how to reconcile it. I hear John’s hurt over Paul’s insensitivity and my heart breaks. But then I look at the dates and realize that less than a year later, John meets Yoko and will soon fracture the heart of his not even 5 year old little boy. The take away is that these men may be musical gods, but the rest of them is simply the same flawed humanity as the rest of us. Cheers, Holly Hobs. This was so good. And it’s always a pleasure to hear you sing & play.

[@Missjunebugfreak]

This is such a beautiful empathetic comment. Sums up how I've always felt about the dynamic between John and Paul.

[@esaivanimanivannnan]

This comment right here needs more attention... Perfectly put together... 🥺

[@edkeaton7242]

I was a kid when I first heard this very haunting and melancholic song. The lyrics gave me chills but yet spoke to me about this character who's the very embodiment of loneliness. The more I hear this song and understand its lyrics, the greater admiration and respect that I have for the Beatles and their talents as songwriters.

[@samidag9266]

You really deserve more subscribers with this lvl of Content

[@blainekeller6057]

Haunting !! Beautiful !! Eloquent !! Paul !!!

[@johnpaulcross424]

This was a delight to watch, you should make more video essays of this nature!

[@manuelperales8217]

It's always fascinating to see such surprising maturity in the lyrics and powerful melody of this song coming from such young people.

[@larryrilea8696]

Say HollyHobs, sorry I don't know your name. Just wanted to say how grateful I am that you do all these wonderful videos about the Beatles and others. I really enjoy hearing the story behind the songs, especially the Beatles and... the Stones too. Thank you so very much.

[@wolfgang5039]

You should talk about sunny afternoon by the kinks

[@althealligator1467]

Waterloo Sunset would be great

[@st.beatles7283]

Eleanor Rigby and While My Guitar Gently Weeps reminds me of Salt Lake City

[@guywebster8018]

So brilliantly written yet such a short song. You find yourself wanting more but in some way you dont want more. You want just that snapshot of time. I love the song man its one of my all time favorites though how often do we really hear it? Im sure the rock pundits of the time were like. What the hell was that?

[@tommypetraglia4688]

Every life story is poetic, wanting, needing, yearning to be told, yet for many who never will

[@yohannbiimu]

It's interesting to me that Bernard Herrmann was an inspiration for the orchestration of this song. He was a great composer and I love his film musical compositions.

[@themangoman9315]

Probably my second favorite Beatles song after nowhere man

[@DhruvMalikk]

I heard your albumn some songs are still stuck in my head..

[@salmanuel4053]

It may be appropriate to think of Eleanor Rigby as a love song to the lonely, a gentle lamentation springing from the same well of kindness that gave rise to Paul McCartney's more traditional love songs.

[@bollaert994]

I went to London Coloseum seeing a ballet performance , but next morning a woke up with a melodie in my head,I knew it was from the Beatles ,soon after I found out the song, since than its in my head,and I enjoy singing it ,its makes me so sheerfull .

[@RaunakShikhar]

I loved the cartoon strip style of this video.

[@lennon1252]

In an October 2021 article in The New Yorker, McCartney wrote that his inspiration for "Eleanor Rigby" was an old lady who lived alone and whom he got to know very well. He would go shopping for her and sit in her kitchen listening to stories and her crystal radio set. McCartney said, "just hearing her stories enriched my soul and influenced the songs I would later write." McCartney wrote the melody and first verse alone, after which he presented the song to the Beatles when they were gathered in the music room of John Lennon's home at Kenwood. Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton all listened to McCartney play his song through and contributed ideas. Harrison came up with the "Ah, look at all the lonely people" hook. Starr contributed the line "writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear" and suggested making "Father McCartney" darn his socks, which McCartney liked. It was then that Shotton suggested that McCartney change the name of the priest, in case listeners mistook the fictional character for McCartney's own father. So Paul took his advise and looked through a phone book until he found 'McKenzie'. McCartney could not decide how to end the song, and Shotton suggested that the two lonely people come together too late as Father McKenzie conducts Eleanor Rigby's funeral. At the time, Lennon rejected the idea out of hand, but McCartney said nothing and used the idea, later acknowledging Shotton's help. McCartney also asked the advice of Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans. John Lennon expressed his resentment at the way McCartney had sought other bandmates' and friends' creative input, rather than collaborate with him directly. Lennon added, "That's the kind of insensitivity he would have, which upset me in later years. "Ah, look at all the lonely people" refrain over the song's final chorus. was requested by George Martin, who said he came up with the idea of the line working contrapuntally to the chorus melody.

[@angalmeida29]

Your research is incredible , thx much

[@cbrmax4192]

yes, one of the best part of the Beatles world is the stories they tell in their music! 👍👍

[@pauls5096]

Obviously the lyrics are great but what really makes the song are the strings. Beautifully haunting.

[@lostparlour]

well from the choice of words, it is believable that John has lots to contribute, the words of this song is far surperior than anything paul ever wrote, but what makes the stories well told is the music itself, which is penned by Paul (with backing music composed by sir martin, he should be received credit for this song too i think) no matter what, a true masterpiece!

[@ewest14]

Paul didn’t always focus on lyrics but when he did, they were some of the best. Eleanor Rigby, For No One, I’m Looking Through You, Let It Be, etc. Paul came in the first verse already done and some others helped along the way but all sources say Paul write most of the lyrics and John didn’t. Pete Shotton, John’s friend who was there, said John contributed “virtually nil.”

[@aceofknaves6296]

The problem is that the Beatles kept traveling through the dimensions. In one Paul wrote it. In another John wrote it. And in others they worked together. I believe in one it was written by Keith Richards, but he kept the original Ola Na Tungee,...but that's another story. In any case when you travel the dimensions that often everything gets all tangled up mentally. You can't remember your reality vs the reality of all the others. Hence the differences in John and Paul's accounts on so many songs.

[@henriktheonly3874]

Lay off the drugs

[@LuckyFlesh]

@@henriktheonly3874 Drugs? Multiple dimensions beyond the 4 we know (string theory requires something like 11) and Multiple universes are mainstream science now. I'm not saying they're right, but a lot of folks that don't do drugs but do have PHDs take this stuff very seriously.

[@jfo3000]

Nah. It's just the case that we're all seeing it from our own perspective, with us as the center of our experience(s). I've written songs and designed machinery with others. It's interesting how many folks say the idea is ALL theirs when they had help with very important pieces of the puzzle. They tend to downplay the contributions of others, no matter how important those contributions were to the success of the project, especially when financial reward is involved. One musical collaborator that I worked with, I'd bring entire instrumental pieces, with vocal melodies already recorded that I played on guitar, thematic ideas for lyrics, he'd write most of the lyrics, I'd help out with the lyrics, actually get them to make sense, smooth out weird rhythm, nonsensical meanderings...he posts them online crediting me only for "playing guitar on HIS songs"! You see I did much more than just play the guitar, which incidentally, I also composed those guitar parts that I played, more like I'm responsible for 50 to 80% of the total song. And zero money would be gained from our project, we knew that. But he needed to misrepresent. This is the way people are. Even when no money is at stake, and only ego. Makes you not want to collaborate.

[@jackybluj]

You make amazing videos!

[@neilneilrebel]

Ello from the Philippines!

[@christianadrian28]

Another great fucking video man

[@iskandarawang458]

im so glad my lecturer introduced me to this song

[@tinyfletcher]

Eleanor Rigby is a miracle. Its a song that had to be written yet you cant believe it was. Thank you Beatles.

[@marklimbrick]

Like many teens I spent all my free time playing these records. Only in the punk era it had to be a furtive indulgsnce. Shocked to discover with access to all the interviews and documentaries that the song writing was just a job. Scrambled eggs and random syllables rather than some emotional crisis.

[@debessar95]

Hunter Davies, chosen by Paul to write a biography of the Beatles, began by writing an article about the lyrics of Eleanor Rigby. He claimed that this text was written solely by Paul. Although it is not.

[@sess122]

I recall an interview with Paul regarding the lyrics and he initially thought of using "Father McCartney" but decided not to go there. So, he went through the phone directory in search of names that began with "Mc..." and when he came across "McKenzie", he ended up using it instead.

[@TheGeekyBacca]

Brother welcome back

[@lewisbarry1770]

I may just be a drunk Englishman But your scintillating analysis of my favourite songs is truly insightful Keep up the exceptional work!! Could i request that you produce a video on " how Eric Clapton made Cocaine" as I believe it is one of his best

[@marklimbrick]

Ah, and also in that graveyard is Uncle George who was a father to John. Don't know if Mim later too. If Paul had seen the name as a catchy song he would have changed it. We could have had Beverly Rivers for example. Real school friend with one of those names. Also Vida Salty.!

[@iracknads]

Theodor Adorno wrote the song and passed it down to George Martin. It was recorded by professional studio musicians and the Tavistok Institute dupes laid down the vocals last.

[@Cloxxki]

Metaphysicians will have something to say about this story. Quite remarkable. That grave may not have been there before the song character appeared, our timeline shifted a bit there. Eleanor lived, and died in the timeline we're now on.

[@christinescarff4920]

My daughter I called Eleanor, but after Eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor Bron ( the satirical actress ). The song ‘ Eleanor Rigby ‘ speaks to the loneliness of life and the craving for love in the human heart of everyone.

[@myriaddsystems]

It's a heartbreaking tune - the commentary on Father McKenzie more aptly describes a man in despair, who has lost faith but in delusion still clings to convention...

[@benjamin-vx1uv]

Scrambled eggs ?? 😂😂 bruh what was paul on?? Lucy's sky diamonds??

[@mikesanders9938]

6

[@jessieallen8296]

George Harrison claimed he wrote some of the words in this song. But got zero credit

[@elhinm07]

Yeah, just one line!

[@wealthymind1180]

​@elhinm07 the best line, just like here comes the sun and something where he writes less pieces than both them combined and is this the bands best songs.

[@ellenbeckmann4293]

One of the best Beatles Songs. Thank you for this Video. Lg from Germany, Ellen ✌ ❤before the Nsme should be Father Mc Cartney U know

[@marisatorre5118]

Is it weird that MY name fits perfectly syllabically ...

[@Fuzcapp]

It's hardly 2 minutes long. George Martin was smart enough to know that a song doesn't need to be embellished any longer than it is necessary to impart the story. George Martin and the engineer deserve plenty of the credit for the drama in this song. Paul wrote a wonderful lyric and melody but can you imagine it with a standard Beatle arrangement? The string quartet in this is perfect and each string part is perfectly written to marry with the lyrics and the vocals. The mic positions are exquisite - really ground-breaking for the time - to mic the strings so close that you can literally hear the bow hitting and scrapping across the strings ... That is truly a moment of brilliance in this song. Normally, in those days, the engineer would try to get the beauty of the tune without the harshness of the bow creating friction with the strings. But they went entirely the opposite way with this. And finally, the harmonies - actually what really makes the harmonies work, is the contrast with Paul's single vocal throughout the rest of the song. Everything about the arrangement of this is totally new for a rock album at the time.

[@MicheleMJJ]

One of my favorite songs......very sad.

[@angalmeida29]

Thx so much for this ;)

[@blackjack2087]

When I first heard the song, I thought it was about an affair between Eleanor and Father Mackenzie- with the priest killing Eleanor at the end due to the line “wiping the dirt off his hand” (probably not the exact line but close enough). With his motive of simply no longer caring about her, etc.

[@keithlillis7962]

An incredible song - and So sad!

[@saptono]

and was bury along with her name. Died into oblivion. How many people in this world suffer the same end?

[@j.x.x.r3645]

I swear the sound track is reminiscent of psycho in some places (especially the last verse)

[@simplycarlton5582]

Beautifully Sad 💔💯

[@jashall3804]

We are all Eleanor Rigby.......

[@47suryanshsengar2]

Star Wars theme starts playing

[@nateuhrich1527]

Like a rolling stone!

[@tyroneepps3018]

Beatles 4-ever !

[@marivg8948]

wow, john's comments!

[@songfulmusicofsongs]

I think that even if we knew exactly how they wrote the lyrics and who said what and so on, it would be difficult to tell the exact percentage and the exact number of lines everyone wrote. Someone can have an idea, says something and another person transforms it into another idea and so on...

[@cloerenjackson3699]

You didn't say anything about how the string parts were composed. The song is great, but the strings are even greater. Who wrote those parts?

[@keithmoon3190]

Eleanor probably commited suicide in the song.

[@47suryanshsengar2]

Such a dramatic song.

[@geenal360]

I enjoyed that.

[@sause123]

None of the Beatles play instrument on Eleanor rigby they only sing but the music is provided by a string quartet playing a score by George Martin

[@benyaminabiyoga6907]

Anyone knows the background music of this video?

[@nza1804]

Same, I’m still wondering too. It sounds so familiar

[@angelicentity1401]

Have you heard Here today from tug of war its very sad song. it's about John, and paul's memory of him.

[@robbyblack2699]

Believe that story if you so choose.

[@sadscaredorca7250]

I want scrambled eggs

[@NickGoorgN]

This song is very coincidental to actual things

[@praiseprince_]

I don't know why everyone likes yesterday, according to me scrambled eggs is better.

[@connerdearing]

I’m guessing you didn’t favor the “love letter” titles these videos were before?

[@DrDolan2000]

Could you do Fixing A Hole?

[@nelsonsoto741]

…also it was a string quartet, not an orchestra.

[@grebrighton]

u deserve a sub!!!! (from me)

[@militzaveitia2551]

britney spears

[@dennisnorsherd2339]

Back when I was still a teen they had a mini series called The Birth of the Beatles, and on night 1 was a real seen of the fake fab 4 cutting through a grave from school and as clear as day Eleanor Rigby! She was very real.

Very nice melody,touching lyrics and interesting story, but ain't no coincidence, everything is for a reason ,Paul's surely a good musician but ı still love to support unpopular and unknown musicians from a leftist perspective anyways

[@jishnus4295]

commercials

[@dustymalone6275]

The song is about the emptiness of religion; how it has nothing to offer us. Father McKenzie and Eleanor Rigby are devoted to their faith, yet their lives are empty and pitiful. She has God. She believes her faith is a source of happiness, yet she has no friends or family, not even a husband to speak of. She is neither loved, nor even liked, by anyone. He has God, too. He devoted his life to learning and preaching the gospel, but no one is interested in what he has to say. He has no other skill, so he must stay with the church and keep up the facade and continue the charade. His sermons make difference to any person's life. They both pinned their hopes and dreams on their faith, but in the end, the only thing their faith was able to offer them was loneliness. Go to any church around the world, there are "Eleanor Rigbys" and "Father McKenzies" everywhere... and there always will be.

[@stevemorris6790]

Why you are bringing this up? Just to put Paul down? John lied a lot depending of his mood, day or night , if Yoko was with him blah blah. The book written by one john best friends Peter Shotton, told that john didn’t contribute nothing to Eleanor Righb at all. Read the book before posting BS.

[@gyract8051]

The Beatles is my favorite band but yesterday to me is better than ElendorRigby

[@ahsansajid9814]

I find lyrics like "Beep beep beep beep yeah" or "she loves you yeah yeah yeah" deeper than this.

[@debessar95]

Lyrics by John Lennon, music by George Martin and Paul McCartney.

[@davidfernandez7971]

How annoying

[@janettedewar6617]

Whatever its just a song.

[@rileymaingque323]

That immortalized a person thats dead

[@humanchannel7825]

You’re signing is cringe sorry