His breakthrough in music came with the album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" ("With peppermint, I'm your prince") in 1978.
Müller-Westernhagen's music is shaped through his concise voice and shouting passages. His texts are very direct and provoking, e.g. "Dicke" ("Fat people"), but also social critical texts like "Freiheit" (freedom) are included in his emotional repertoire.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hatt ich ihn versteckt.
Unter all dem Dreck
Seinen Lebenszweck.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
War er gut versteckt.
Unter all dem Dreck
Und ich weine
Weine
Um meine Kleine
Ich weine
Weine
Sie ist weg.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
Hatt ich sie getroffen
Mann war'n wir besoffen
Von dem Glücksgefühl.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
Baute ich ein Haus
Für mich und meine Maus
Am Montag zog sie aus.
Und ich weine
Weine
Um meine Kleine
Ich weine
Weine
Sie ist weg.
Tränen
Tränen
Im Kaffee.
Tränen
Tränen
Ach herrjeh.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
Hatt ich sie belogen.
Gäb's 'nen Regenbogen
Das fand sie nicht nett.
Unter meinem Fingernagel
Spüle ich den Dreck
Mit 'nem Wodka weg
Hat ja doch kein Zweck.
Und ich weine
Weine
Um meine Kleine
Ich weine
Weine
Sie ist weg.
The lyrics of Marius Müller-Westernhagen's song "Unter meinem Fingernagel" express a sense of loss and sorrow as the singer mourns the departure of his loved one. He refers to her as "kleine" or little one, which indicates their intimate relationship, and suggests that he had kept her hidden under his fingernail, emphasizing his possessive nature towards her. The metaphorical image of hiding someone under his fingernail also highlights his vulnerability and fragility, as he could easily crush her.
The singer blames himself for their separation and dwells on his mistakes. He admits that he had lied to her, which caused her to leave him. He recalls the happy times they shared while they were in love, but now that she is gone, his world crumbles. The chorus repeats the line “Ich weine” or “I cry” to underscore the profound sadness and isolation he feels. The ending suggests that he is drowning his sorrows in alcohol, which only exacerbates his pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Unter meinem Fingernagel
I hid him there.
Hatt ich ihn versteckt.
He was well hidden.
Unter all dem Dreck
Underneath all the filth.
Seinen Lebenszweck.
His purpose in life.
Doch jetzt ist er weg.
But now he is gone.
Und ich weine
And I cry.
Sie ist weg.
She is gone.
Hatt ich sie getroffen
I met her there.
Mann war'n wir besoffen
We were drunk.
Von dem Glücksgefühl.
From the feeling of happiness.
Baute ich ein Haus
I built a house.
Für mich und meine Maus
For me and my girl.
Am Montag zog sie aus.
On Monday, she left.
Tränen
Tears.
Im Kaffee.
In my coffee.
Ach herrjeh.
Oh my.
Hatt ich sie belogen.
I had lied to her.
Gäb's 'nen Regenbogen
If there was a rainbow.
Das fand sie nicht nett.
She did not find that nice.
Spüle ich den Dreck
I wash away the dirt.
Mit 'nem Wodka weg
With some vodka.
Hat ja doch kein Zweck.
But it's no use.
Ich weine
I cry.
Um meine Kleine.
For my girl.
Sie ist weg.
She is gone.
Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.