The Awful Ache
The Church Lyrics

Esmeralda falls in love every Saturday
Esmeralda is a character who falls in love easily and frequently, to the point where it happens every Saturday.

And on Sunday morning don't remember a thing
Esmeralda forgets her romantic entanglements the next day, indicating a lack of attachment.

And the gringos are all saints of the latter day, that's the way
The singer (presumably one of the band members) believes people of other cultures are often perceived in a romanticized or idealized way, possibly due to cultural appropriation.

And it takes a little pain out of the sting
Romantic attachment can be painful, so temporary infatuations may be a way to avoid that pain momentarily.

Holy water tastes as sweet as wine
In the artist's religious experience, the sacrament of holy water is as pleasurable as wine.

Holy wine tastes just like blood
Continuing the religious imagery, holy wine symbolizes the blood of Christ in Christian theology.

She's drinking for loss, for the man on the cross
Esmeralda is coping with pain and loss through religious ritual, symbolized by drinking the holy sacraments.

She says no more, the awful ache
Through this religious practice, Esmeralda hopes to eliminate her emotional pain.

And in her bedroom there's a mirror there
Esmeralda has a mirror in her bedroom, a common household item that allows us to see ourselves and reflect on our appearance.

Sometimes it don't reflect a thing
Sometimes the mirror is empty when Esmeralda looks into it, suggesting she feels empty or doesn't recognize herself in some way.

And from the street he sees her silhouette
Someone observes Esmeralda from outside, possibly seeing her in a different light or perspective.

And he can't forget
This observer is haunted by his memories of Esmeralda and can't put them out of his mind.

That her kisses are as sweet as wine
Esmeralda is a romantic figure who gives and receives affection.

And her kisses taste like myrrh
Myrrh is a resin that was used in ancient times as an incense or embalming material, so this line may suggest a religious or spiritual context for their intimacy.

Her love is lost, like the man on the cross
Esmeralda's love is similarly sacrificed or abandoned, like Christ's love for humanity was thought to be sacrificed on the cross.

And no more, the awful ache
Through this romantic loss, Esmeralda is finally free of the pain that drove her to seek religious comfort.

Esmerelda walks on down to the cemet'ry
Esmerelda goes to a cemetery, a solemn place often associated with death and loss.

And he's waiting for her in the shade
The observer has followed her there and is anticipating her arrival.

With the angels and the sad old trees, patiently
The graveyard is described as a place of reverence and melancholy, perhaps reflecting the emotional state of the characters involved.

But she walks right past his grave
Esmeralda shows no interest in the observer's presence and doesn't acknowledge him in his chosen location (the grave).

She's crying for loss, for the man on the cross
Esmeralda continues to grieve or seek comfort for her romantic loss using religious symbols.

She says no more, the awful ache
Despite this ritual, Esmeralda is unable to fully escape her pain.

She's crying for loss, and the man on the cross
Esmeralda's sadness is intertwined with her sense of religious devotion, suggesting that these two aspects of her life are deeply connected.

She says no more, the awful ache
While she seeks solace through religion and ritual, Esmeralda is still grappling with the pain of a lost romantic connection.