Ahh, Look at all the Lonely People

This morning, which happened to be a slate grey New England morning, I woke to the sound of the Beatles's Eleanor Rigby. The full orchestration of the song actually PLAYING in my head-- like it was on the radio. The Ahhhh, Look at all Lonely People part.




Sweet Jesus-- I really don't know why. The strings really stood out for me though. I could hear the lyrics, and of course I know them by heart, but it was the strings that sang out to me. I could literally feel myself breathing along with the bowing, as if I was in the studio when the double string quartet was making the recording. The string section was composed by Sir George Henry Martin.

I don't actually own any Beatles albums, but I know all the songs, and few songs in general make me look over my shoulder while I'm humming along to them like Eleanor Rigby. It's less about the subject matter, more about the musical structure itself. The song, like many Beatles songs make use of the ancient, Dorian mode-- not freakish at all when you're listening to swinging jazz, but think Grecian, think Medieval chanting. Think Scarborough Fair, and Greensleeves. I've got chills, right now. . .

I have no idea why Eleanor Rigby woke me, or why that specific part of the song. I'll keep thinking it over-- if I can stand the goosebumps.