The lyrics describe a series of troubling interactions involving violence, abandonment, and exploitation. The narrator witnesses a brutal fight, a flipped-over semi-truck, and picks up a vulnerable young girl with sad eyes and rotten teeth. Despite feeling guilty about their actions, the narrator continues down the road with a sense of unease.

Meaning of "$87 And A Guilty Conscience That Gets Worse The Longer I Go" by Richmond Fontaine

The lyrics delve into themes of guilt, desperation, and moral ambiguity. The narrator finds themselves in situations where they witness or participate in acts that go against their moral compass. Despite feeling remorse and questioning their actions, they continue down the road without looking back, carrying their guilty conscience with them. This can be seen as a reflection of how individuals can become desensitized to the suffering of others in pursuit of their own survival or gratification. The sense of unease and discomfort expressed in the narrator's journey reflects the internal struggle between doing what is right and succumbing to the darker impulses within oneself.