In 1966 the Beatles released the album “Revolver”, which included the song “Eleanor Rigby”.
This is a song in which the Beatles, for the first time, try to experiment with their sound.
George Martin also helps them with this.
Essentially, the British band begins to be “searched”, both lyrically and melodically.
Leaving behind the classic rock’n’roll forms with the shallow lyrics and the simple and mainly concert sound.
The melody and the title, as usual, came from Paul McCartney, who played various, alone on the piano.
The stories behind the title…
There are many stories here about how the title was inspired.
Originally the title was not “Eleanor Rigby”, but “Miss Daisy Hawkins” and the original lyrics were: “Daisy Hawkins picks up the rice in the church ‘. I do not know why”.
He had thought of using the name Father McCartney, but in order not to identify with his father, he changed it.
As he searched the phone book (they still existed then), he came across the name “McKenzie”.
Some, of course, claim that it is the father Tommy McKenzie, who worked at the Northwich Memorial Hall.
Others say that the name Eleanor came from the actress Eleanor Bron, who starred in the Beatles movie, “Help”.
“Rigby” comes from a store in Bristol, “Rigby & Evens Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers”.
While waiting for his girlfriend Jane Asher, McCartney was looking at the store sign.
The truth about the title and the song…
McCartney himself in an article in “The Newyorker” analyzes the truth about the lyrics of the song.
The song “Eleanor Rigby” is based on an old lady “with whom I got along very well.
I do not even know how I first met Eleanor Rigby, but I went to her house, not just once or twice.
I found out she was living alone, so I just went there and chatted, which is kind of crazy considering you’m a young man.
Later, I would suggest I go shopping for her. She would give me a list and I would bring things back and we would sit in her kitchen.
I still vividly remember the kitchen, because it had a small set of crystal radio.
This is not a name. it did have a crystal in it.
Crystal radios were quite popular in the 1920s and ’30s.
So, I would visit her, and just listening to her stories enriched my soul and influenced the songs I would write later. ”
McCartney, continues his article, referring to another event connected with the name Eleanor Rigby.
He and Lennon wandered to St. Peter’s Church in Woolton, where they talked non-stop about their future.
There was a gravestone in the cemetery with the name Eleanor Rigby on it.
“I do not remember seeing the grave there, but I guess I may have subconsciously recorded it.”
McCartney did not know how to finish the lyrical part of the song.
Then Pete Shotton, Lennon’s childhood friend, suggested that they end with Father McKenzie delivering Eleanor Rigby’s funeral.
Despite Lennon’s objections, the song was left with this ending.