☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics play with the symbolism of light and shadow.
- The man of her dreams embodies the temptations and desires of life.
- The text warns about the importance of being careful who you reach out to and who you open up to.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Der Schatten malt den Teufel an die Wand' by
Juliane Werding is about a woman who is alone in front of the fireplace on New Year's Eve and is melting lead to predict the future. At that moment, she sees the shadow of a devil on the wall and is filled with fear. Shortly before midnight, someone knocks on her door and asks for shelter because they are freezing. Although she hesitates at first, she recognizes the voice of the man and opens the door. It's the man of her dreams, who offers to be her servant and fulfill her wishes. She is confused because he seems to know all her dreams and her past. Nevertheless, she shakes his hand and lets him enter her life.
The lyrics play with the symbolism of light and shadow. The shadow of the devil symbolizes the woman's fear and insecurity, while the light and warmth of the fireplace represent safety. The man of her dreams embodies the temptations and seductions of life that lead her to overcome her fears and embark on the adventure.
At the end of the song, it becomes clear that the night has passed and the woman sees herself in the mirror as an old woman. She realizes that her love and dreams have burned and been lost in just one night. The fact that the shadow painted the devil on the wall means that her fears have come true and she must face the consequences of her actions.
The song lyrics convey the message that we should be careful who we reach out to and open ourselves up to. We should be aware that sometimes we paint the devil on the wall by getting into dangerous and uncertain situations.