Der Rest von dein’ Gewissen

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "Der Rest von dein' Gewissen" immediately plunge us into a stark confrontation. A relentless, personified conscience addresses a highly successful individual. This person has climbed to the top through morally dubious means. The conscience serves as an unwelcome, persistent reminder of their past actions. The central tension lies in the subject's clear desire to ignore this internal voice. Phrases like "I was du wüst vo mir nix wissen" (I know you want to know nothing from me) underscore this denial. Yet, the conscience is unyielding, declaring, "so leicht kommst ma net davon" (you won't get away from me so easily). It highlights how the subject actively "weggeschoben" (pushed away) their conscience on the path to success. The craft truly shines in the vivid personification of the conscience as a haunting, physical presence. It "kumm ganz hamlich in der Nocht" (comes secretly in the night) and "schleich mi unters Ruhekissen" (creeps under the pillow). This imagery transforms an abstract moral struggle into something tangible and inescapable, making the subject's internal conflict feel like an external threat to their peace. The conscience isn't just a thought; it's a shadowy figure disrupting sleep. These lyrics are effective because they don't shy away from detailing the subject's ruthlessness. Specific lines like acquiring a villa by "einer alten Witwe abgeluchst" (swindling an old widow) or having "so manchen Stuhl... angesägt" (sawed off many a chair) ground the abstract concept of guilt in concrete, unforgivable actions. The final, chilling warning — "Nur wenn i furt bin, dann bist ganz alla" (Only when I'm gone, then you're completely alone) — suggests that even the nagging conscience is a form of company, implying a deeper, more profound isolation awaits if it's finally silenced.