Gewissen Lyrics in English by Die Toten Hosen
Gewissen translates to "conscience". It's a profound and central theme in the song, personified as an entity that follows you and eventually confronts you with your actions.
The song uses this word to explore the idea of accountability and self-reflection, making it a powerful and thought-provoking choice that stands out from everyday vocabulary.
Have you ever felt that nagging feeling in the back of your mind, the one that tells you when you've done something wrong? Die Toten Hosen's "Gewissen" (Conscience) personifies that very feeling, making it a relentless, almost sinister character.
The song is told from the perspective of your conscience, which declares, "Ich bin immer hinter dir / Jeden Tag von früh bis spät" [I am always behind you / Every day from early to late]. It's always there, a constant presence that you might try to ignore or "einfach zur Seite schiebst" [simply push aside]. But this isn't a gentle reminder; it's a promise that "An deinem letzten Tag hol ich dich ein" [On your last day I will catch up to you]. Your conscience promises to reveal your true self, forcing you to confront "Den tausend Lügen von dir wirst du dich stellen" [The thousand lies you've told] and "All den Tricks und Spielerein" [All the tricks and games]. It's a pretty blunt warning, isn't it? It even calls itself "die Zecke / Die in deinem Nacken sitzt" [the tick / That sits in your neck] – a really vivid and slightly unsettling image for something you just can't shake off. It's a powerful song about accountability and the idea that, eventually, you can't outrun yourself.
