Sunday September 20, 2020 “Eleanor Rigby” Black Pumas

So you are confused seeing that familiar song title and the wrong artist.

 I recently heard this unexpected version of “Eleanor Rigby” and thought let’s do a week of covers, unusual versions of familiar songs just for fun.

 We heard from the Black Pumas earlier in the song of the day with one of their original tunes and I have to be honest, although I am obviously familiar with the Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” when I first heard this it took a bit to realize what the song was, and certainly not in a bad way. 

 I grew up with radio being one of my best friends and was a faithful fan of the first/original versions of songs that I heard and completely rejected alternate takes by different artists.  The wisdom (?) of age and the recognition that some of those alternate versions were just as interesting and often better than the originals opened a broader listening experience for me.

 Hope it does the same for you this week or at least provides you with something to listen to and maybe reject.

 "Eleanor Rigby" is a brilliant song and this cover demonstrates just how to make someone else’s work your own.

 Here’s a link to the original in case you have forgotten it.

 Stay safe and well...and do take notice and care for the lonely people.

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby

Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been

Lives in a dream

Waits at the window

Wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door

Who is it for?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie

Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear

No one comes near

Look at him working

Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there

What does he care?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby

Died in the church and was buried along with her name

Nobody came

Father McKenzie

Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave

No one was saved

All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people)

Where do they all belong?