Herman Brood (Zwolle, November 5, 1946 – Amsterdam, July 11, 2001) was a Du… Read Full Bio ↴Herman Brood (Zwolle, November 5, 1946 – Amsterdam, July 11, 2001) was a Dutch musician, painter and media personality. Brood was the Dutch personification of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.

After playing piano in Cuby and the Blizzards and several other bands since 1964, Brood started his own group, Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, in 1977. The band had their first hit single, Saturday Night, in 1978. But even more than his music, it was his outspoken statements in the press about sex and drug use that brought Herman Brood into the public arena in the Netherlands. In the early 1980s he was romantically involved with the German artist Nina Hagen, with whom he appeared in the film Cha Cha. Brood relished the media attention and became the most famous hard drug user in the Netherlands. "It is usual that an artist uses drugs, but tells everybody he doesn't", he once said in an interview. "I admit that it scared me that my popularity could make people start using drugs." In the 1990s he took up painting and became as successful as a painter as he was as a musician.

With the band 'Herman Brood & his Wild Romance' he made his best known album 'Shpritsz' (a play on the German word for injection needle), containing anti-drug use songs like 'Dope Sucks', but also 'Saturday Night'. Brood swore off most drugs, reducing his drug use to alcohol and a daily shot of speed.
As a result of an impressive TV-show together with the 'modern saint' Salvation Army's major Alida Bosshardt makes Herman Brood also beloved to people who never appreciated or even heard his music.

When in 2001, he found out that he had only a few months left to live, Herman took matters into his own hands and, depressed by the failure of his drug rehabilitation program, committed suicide on July 11 by jumping from the roof of the Hilton Hotel at the age of 54.

Als je wint
Herman Brood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hij kijkt vooruit ziet niets
Hij denkt niet na hij fietst
Al doen zijn benen pijn
Hij moet de snelste zijn
Ze halen nooit meer in
Hij denkt: verdomd ik win!

Nooit meer alleen

Nooit meer alleen

Ze komt half naakt voorbij
De jury op een rij
Ze lacht haar tanden bloot
Wat zijn haar borsten groot
Haar tranen stromen want
Ze is Miss Nederland

Nooit meer alleen
Nooit meer alleen

Als je wint heb je vrienden
Rijen dik
Echte vrienden
Als je wint
Nooit meer eenzaam
Zolang je wint

Al ben je nog zo moe
Ze komen naar je toe
Of je nu slaapt of eet
of half aangekleed
Een feest is nooit een feest
Als jij niet bent geweest

Nooit meer alleen
Nooit meer alleen

Als je wint heb je vrienden
Rijen dik
Echte vrienden
Als je wint
Nooit meer eenzaam
Zolang je wint

enz.

Overall Meaning

The song "Als je wint heb je vrienden" by Dutch musician Herman Brood describes the feeling of winning and the luxuries that come along with it. The lyrics describe a competitive cyclist who is determined to win, even if it means pushing through the pain. The chorus emphasizes that winning brings friends and eliminates loneliness. The second verse shifts focus to Miss Nederland (Miss Netherlands) who passes by with the jury, displaying her beauty and causing envy from those around her. However, winning still brings popularity and friendships, as people flock to be around the winner.

The theme of the song is ultimately about the power dynamics of success and how it can change one's social status. The lyrics suggest that winning brings not only benefits but also fake friends who only want to be around for the glamour and success. The repetitive chorus "Als je wint heb je vrienden" emphasizes this idea and creates a cynical tone towards the insincerity of newfound friendships.

The song was released in 1979 and became one of Herman Brood's most well-known and anthemic songs. It has been covered by several artists, including Dutch singer Gerard Joling, and was featured in the movie "Ciske de Rat" in 1984.

Line by Line Meaning

Hij kijkt vooruit ziet niets
He looks ahead and sees nothing.

Hij denkt niet na hij fietst
He doesn't think, he just bikes.

Al doen zijn benen pijn
Even if his legs hurt.

Hij moet de snelste zijn
He must be the fastest.

Ze halen nooit meer in
They never catch up.

Hij denkt: verdomd ik win!
He thinks: damn, I'm winning!

Ze komt half naakt voorbij
She passes by half-naked.

De jury op een rij
The judges lined up.

Ze lacht haar tanden bloot
She laughs with her teeth showing.

Wat zijn haar borsten groot
How big her breasts are.

Haar tranen stromen want
Her tears are flowing because.