I really love this song and being a philosophy minor makes me love it even more. I think the Beatles are pointing out where all this unhappiness comes from. First off, E.R is most likely a nun or janitor (picking up rice) who wants to get closer to F.M, but because of Catholicism they can't be together (implementing religion for unhappiness). Also, the next part about wearing a face in a jar by the door is referring to makeup worn to give the illusion of happiness or just putting on a front whenever in public to try to be happy like everyone else, but it turns out there are truly many unhappy people (so society as well). The next part about writing words that no one will hear, has to do with F.M who is trying to help others but he can't even help himself because of a religion that is supposed to make life better, but is doing the opposite "No-one comes near" and " a sermon no one will hear." However, in spite of this he still blindly works hard at something that is a lost cause, "darning his socks." He is trying, but not really thinking because if he was than he would realize how unhappy he is and change his path in life. The last part about E.R dying gives a truthful yet sad example of what the outcome and future holds; E.R never married "buried along with her name" and I might be reading into it too much, but "she," not in a physical sense, but in a “self” sense died before her body did as a result of the church. Also the last lines about F.M "wiping the dirt from his hands" is almost like he is once again not reflecting on what has happened and blindly following something that has led to such anguish. I think this song says a lot about the Beatles views on religion and we can't really dispute all of this...............
I really love this song and being a philosophy minor makes me love it even more. I think the Beatles are pointing out where all this unhappiness comes from. First off, E.R is most likely a nun or janitor (picking up rice) who wants to get closer to F.M, but because of Catholicism they can't be together (implementing religion for unhappiness). Also, the next part about wearing a face in a jar by the door is referring to makeup worn to give the illusion of happiness or just putting on a front whenever in public to try to be happy like everyone else, but it turns out there are truly many unhappy people (so society as well). The next part about writing words that no one will hear, has to do with F.M who is trying to help others but he can't even help himself because of a religion that is supposed to make life better, but is doing the opposite "No-one comes near" and " a sermon no one will hear." However, in spite of this he still blindly works hard at something that is a lost cause, "darning his socks." He is trying, but not really thinking because if he was than he would realize how unhappy he is and change his path in life. The last part about E.R dying gives a truthful yet sad example of what the outcome and future holds; E.R never married "buried along with her name" and I might be reading into it too much, but "she," not in a physical sense, but in a “self” sense died before her body did as a result of the church. Also the last lines about F.M "wiping the dirt from his hands" is almost like he is once again not reflecting on what has happened and blindly following something that has led to such anguish. I think this song says a lot about the Beatles views on religion and we can't really dispute all of this...............