Ben Howard’s “Esmerelda” Lyrics Meaning
This song is based on singer Ben Howard’s experiences alongside the titular “Esmerelda”. The exact type of relationship he shared with her is never specified. However, since he implies that they shared a “bed” together, the implication would be that she was a lover.
And we say that in the past tense, as Ben is relaying this song post-breakup. He and Esmeralda have already parted ways. And now he is lamenting the fact that he could not retain her.
The idea he presents in the song is that she was a ‘freer’ person than he was. And in that regard, he seems to give the impression that by getting romantically involved with him – who comes off as someone who is generally depressed – she likewise lost her innate cheerfulness. Indeed she even tried to help him overcome his depression. But overall, he “failed” at being a lover from whom she could derive any type of positive inspiration from. And in the process of it all their relationship also ended.
However, he does not attribute this situation solely to his own personality flaws. Ben also states that “silent beasts” and other unfavorable, hidden enemies were “rife” around them. This reads as if he is saying general negativity in their environment contributed to the two of them breaking up. Indeed the third entity he refers to as sharing a room with him and Esmerelda in the first verse may be a personification of this overall darkness. But he was unable to actually perceive those factors at the time they were dating.
So all things considered, this track reads like a heartbreak song by a depressed dude who may also have self-esteem issues. He is now “on (his) own” and takes the bulk of the blame for his relationship with Esmerelda dissolving. But at the same time he acknowledges external, ethereal factors as also contributing to the demise of their romance.
Release Date of “Esmeralda”
Island Records released this heartbreak tune as a part of Ben Howard’s EP The Burgh Island EP on 31 October 2012. On this same EP appears one of Howard’s trademark songs titled “Oats in the Water“.
Writing and Production
Chris Bond, Ben Howard’s trusty collaborator, produced this song, which Howard himself had written.
FYI: Howard doesn’t mention the song’s title (“Esmeralda”) anywhere in the lyrics.
