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.
Sleepin' Bird
Herman Brood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He took off with the wild keys in the early mornin' grey
Ridin' the desert for a million miles a day
& there ain't no barricades anymore
Between the mountains & the very floor
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
(chorus)
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
(2 x)
He took his time, when he shot him through the head
Before he hit the floor the boy was cold & dead
One day someone is gonna plead against your name
He won't mark if you win or lose, how you play the game
One day someone is gonna plead against your style
So uptight - he just can't take away your smile
he was
(chorus)
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
(2 x)
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood
(guitar solo - 16 bars)
Heartbeat's fadin' - pressure's goin' down
Skin gets red - eyes start poppin' 'round (he was...)
Chorus - with breaks
Chorus - till fade
The lyrics of "Sleepin' Bird" by Herman Brood are dark and mysterious, with a focus on a character who is never seen or heard, but passes by like a "sleepin' bird". The song opens with imagery of this character riding through the desert on a mission, with no obstacles standing in his way. He is described as leaving behind a "shadow of blood" as he moves through the neighborhood, suggesting that he is a danger to those around him.
The lyrics then take a darker turn as the character is revealed to have killed someone, shooting them through the head. This violent act is framed as something that may come back to haunt him in the future, as someone may eventually plead against his name or style. The song ends with a description of the physical toll this pressure takes on the character, as his heartbeat races and his skin turns red.
Overall, "Sleepin' Bird" is a song that explores themes of danger and moral ambiguity, with a focus on a character who exists in the shadows and is capable of great violence.
Line by Line Meaning
He took off with the wild keys in the early mornin' grey
He drove away with the car keys very early in the greyish hue of the morning.
Ridin' the desert for a million miles a day
He rode through a deserted place for an immensely long distance in a day.
& there ain't no barricades anymore
There are no barriers left anymore.
Between the mountains & the very floor
The mountains and the soil are now seamless.
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
As he investigated the area, it became obscure and shadowed.
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood (he was...)
He left everything behind in a state of violence.
Never seen, he was
He was not seen.
Never heard
He was never heard.
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
Like an undisturbed bird, he passed without drawing attention.
He took his time, when he shot him through the head
He was not in a hurry when he shot him in the head.
Before he hit the floor the boy was cold & dead
The boy was already dead before he collapsed.
One day someone is gonna plead against your name
Someday, someone will accuse you.
He won't mark if you win or lose, how you play the game
He doesn't care whether you win, lose or how you play the game.
One day someone is gonna plead against your style
Someday, someone will critique your way of doing things.
So uptight - he just can't take away your smile
Despite his nervousness, he cannot steal your happiness.
Heartbeat's fadin' - pressure's goin' down
The heart rate is decreasing while the pressure is decreasing.
Skin gets red - eyes start poppin' 'round (he was...)
The skin color turns red and the eyes widen in panic or fear.
Chorus - with breaks
The main chorus refrain, with breaks.
till fade
The song continues to fade out.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sting
SLEEPIN' BIRD
He took off with the wild keys in the early mornin' grey
Ridin' the desert for a million miles a day
& There ain't no barricades anymore
Between the mountains & the very floor
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood (he was...)
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
He took his time, when he shot him through the head
Before he hit the floor the boy was cold & dead
One day someone is gonna plead against your name
He won't mark if you win or lose, how you play the game
One day someone is gonna plead against your style
So uptight - he just can't take away your smile
He was
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood
Heartbeat's fadin' - pressure's goin' down
Skin gets red - eyes start poppin' 'round (he was...)
Dennis Rosenberg
The most underrated rock-n-roll star of all times.
Arne Thoné
Agreed
Bertus Woudwijk
Dennis Rosenberg definitely!
Jacobus Baker
Kwam alleen 20 jaar te laat.
Michael van sante
This album is underrated, solid as a rock!!
arne haverschmidt
Bedankt voor deze mooie track, Herman!!
Sting
SLEEPIN' BIRD
He took off with the wild keys in the early mornin' grey
Ridin' the desert for a million miles a day
& There ain't no barricades anymore
Between the mountains & the very floor
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood (he was...)
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
He took his time, when he shot him through the head
Before he hit the floor the boy was cold & dead
One day someone is gonna plead against your name
He won't mark if you win or lose, how you play the game
One day someone is gonna plead against your style
So uptight - he just can't take away your smile
He was
Never seen, he was
Never heard
Passin' by like a sleepin' bird
Dark spot as he quizzed the neighbourhood
Leavin' it all in a shadow of blood
Heartbeat's fadin' - pressure's goin' down
Skin gets red - eyes start poppin' 'round (he was...)
Jacobus Baker
The bass coming in is very cool. Herman never got the credits in little Holland they regarded him a clown but he was so talented.
Meine Postma
Bullshit. Herman Brood werd zeer gewaardeerd.
Meine Postma
@Jacobus Baker Ga maar lekker generaliseren joh. En lekker schelden, altijd een teken van kracht :D