Over forty million adults in the U.S.A suffer from an anxiety disorder such as depression. Throughout time, people have had the same or similar feelings and concerns, and there have been many songs written about the feelings of the depressed. “Paint it Black” is one of these songs and it depicts a man who has lost his love. Also “Candle in the Wind” talks about Marilyn Monroe who was depressed to the point of suicide. “Eleanor Rigby” shows a women and pastor who are lonely. These three songs express how someone can be lonely in a world full of people.

"Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones shows a man who is lonely in a world full of people. The word choice of "black" throughout the song emphasizes many emotions such as depression, loneliness and the desire to be left alone.
"I see a red door and I want it painted black", (1) "I see girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes" (3) and " I see a line of cars and their all painted black" (5) all relate a man talking in first person walking down the road wanting everything to be as sad and dark as he feels inside. The line "with flowers and my love both never to come back" (6) could be one of the most touching parts to this song and gives us a reason for this mans sadness, his love is gone. Shows that the amazement that most feel for the world is no longer felt by him (8). " I look inside myself and see my heart is black" (9) demonstrates the acknowledgment of the death of his emotions. He says " maybe i'll fade away and not have to face the fact" (11) restates the loss of his love. " I could not foresee this thing happening to you" (14) reflects that in some way this man feels responsible for what has happened to the girl he loves, and that he lacks control over the world around him. Line 15 and 16 use beautiful and descriptive language while “I want to see the sun blotted out of the sky” (23) shows more anger towards the world. The Rolling Stones use poetic and descriptive words such as the use of the word "coal" (21). This song demonstrates the loneliness that everyone at some time has felt even while surrounded by people.

“Candle in the Wind” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin describes the life of Marilyn Monroe and how fame made her lonely.“goodbye Norma Jeane” (1) refers to her death. “and they made you change your name” (8) Norma Jeane Mortenson is the birth name of Marilyn Monroe. “though I never knew you at all” (2) would be the narrator admitting that he never knew her while still having deep feelings towards her.“they whispered into your brain”(6) and “they set you on a treadmill” (7) refers to the people around her and those she worked with who molded her for their own gain.“ and it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in” (9-12), a beautiful metaphor about the lack of trust and friendship Marilyn had when she went through hard times in her life. The legend of Marilyn Monroe will be remembered forever (16). “ loneliness was tough” (17) and “the toughest role you ever played” (18) refers back to her loneliness and also her career that defined her. “hollywood created a superstar” (19) shows that she was changed by the people she worked for and (20) that for fame she paid a high price, her happiness and freedom. (22) “oh the press still hounded you” even after her death the press was critical of her, and “all the papers had to say was that Marilyn was found in the nude” (23,24).
Even through everything that had happened in her life Marilyn held herself gracefully and with a smile which is brought out by the narrator in line (27). “from the young man in the 22nd row” (30) would be the narrator talking about himself watching the movies she was in and seeing her as the beautiful person she was on the inside (31). When the narrator grew up and learned about Norma Jeane, he realized how much he wanted to have known her when she was still alive (33,34). “Candle in the wind” is a touching song about the struggles that famous people face, and how they lose freedom and can become lonely.

8 billion people and counting and yet we are all lonely at times, this theme is described well in the repetition or refrain of “all the lonely people” found throughout the song “Eleanor Rigby”. “ah look at all the lonely people, ah look at all the lonely people” are the first two lines of this song by the Beatles. “Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been” (3,4) in a way Eleanor is cleaning up after other peoples happiness and love for one another. She has made a pretend world for herself to ease the loneliness (5). There is a second person brought out in this song, Father McKenzie.“Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear” (13,14) Father McKenzie is also along in the church and no ones comes to his sermons. “Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name, nobody came” (19-21) Eleanor died along, no husband or family and no one to come to her funeral. As an end to the song Father Mckenzie wipes the dirt from his hands after burying Eleanor Rigby and walks away alone and with Eleanor Rigby forever alone.

Loneliness in a world full of people could hardly be expressed better by these three songs. “Paint it Black” was dark and gave readers and listeners a sense of what this man was feeling on the inside. “Candle in the Wind” a song about the life of Marilyn Monroe depicted the life of a famous person and the struggles that left her feeling hopeless. “Eleanor Rigby” used “all the lonely people” repeatedly to show how we are all lonely at times. We need to care about the issue of loneliness in our society and the world because one day those people could be me or you.