After playing piano in Cuby + 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. It was taken from their best known and most succesful studio album, 1978's Shpritsz. A a live band, the leather-clad Wild Romance took The Netherlands (and Germany) by storm.
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. In the 1990s he took up painting and soon became more successful as a painter athan he was as a musician (for a rock musician as legendary as Herman Brood, his studio LPs after 1980 sold remarkably poorly).
Brood swore off most drugs, reducing his drug use to alcohol and a daily shot of speed. Sadly (and ironically), this healthier lifestyle turned him into a vulnerable man almost overnight. He decided to take matters into his own hands and committed suicide: on 11 July 2001 he jumped off the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton hotel, at aged of 54.
Close friend, Bart Chabot, wrote about Brood's life in a string of biographies: "Broodje gezond", "Broodje halfom", "Brood en spelen" and "Broodje springlevend". Admirer, Black Francis, recorded a studio album (Bluefinger) as a tribute to Herman Brood.
Burn
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
comes the artist in crime
down to the bone
he drinks the violent wine
touch of evil
he's got twisted kicks
ain't gonna talk
'bout the price of fish
BURN
(gotta be certain)
before you fade
(gotta be certain)
I gotta find out
I gotta be certain
this obsession
ain't the final curtain
& all these numbers
reduced to zero
those who die young
are all my heroes
BURN
(gotta be certain)
before you fade
(gotta be certain)
BURN before you fade
Gotta find out
Gotta be certain
this obsession
ain't the final curtain
touch of evil
got twisted kicks
ain't gonna talk
'bout the price of fish
& all these numbers
reduced to zero
those who die young
are all my heroes
The song "Burn" by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance is a powerful and intense rock song that touches upon themes of obsession, mortality, and the darker aspects of life. The opening lines describe the artist coming out of the basement, implying that he has been locked away or secluded himself in order to focus on his work. The use of the word "crime" suggests that his work is unconventional or controversial, and that he may be seen as an outsider or rebel figure. The line "down to the bone, he drinks the violent wine" adds to this sense of danger and intensity.
The next stanza introduces the idea of a "touch of evil" and "twisted kicks." It's unclear what these specifically refer to, but they could be seen as symbolic of the artist's darker tendencies or primal urges. The line "ain't gonna talk 'bout the price of fish" implies that the artist doesn't care about mundane or petty concerns, and is focused solely on his art and his own desires.
The chorus is a repeated call to "burn" before fading away. This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but it seems to suggest a need to live life to the fullest and not let opportunities slip away. The second verse reinforces this idea, with the lines "gotta find out, gotta be certain, this obsession ain't the final curtain." The artist is consumed by his passion and needs to pursue it to the fullest, but there is also a sense of urgency and a fear of missing out that underlies the lyrics.
The final lines of the song bring in the idea of mortality and heroism. The reference to "all these numbers reduced to zero" suggests the inevitability of death, and perhaps a sense of nihilism or futility. But the declaration that "those who die young are all my heroes" suggests a defiance in the face of death, and a desire to live life on one's own terms.
Overall, "Burn" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the deep-seated desires and fears that drive us as human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of the basement
The artist is emerging from a dark, hidden place
comes the artist in crime
The artist is associated with criminal activities
down to the bone
The artist is stripped down to his core
he drinks the violent wine
He indulges in destructive behaviors
touch of evil
He has a dark nature
he's got twisted kicks
He enjoys weird or extreme things
ain't gonna talk
He won't discuss
'bout the price of fish
About insignificant or irrelevant things
BURN
Take action, make an impact
(gotta be certain)
The need for certainty before taking action
before you fade
Act before it's too late
I gotta find out
The artist needs to discover something
this obsession
The artist has an intense focus on something
ain't the final curtain
It's not over yet
& all these numbers
The artist is referring to statistics or data
reduced to zero
The artist is questioning the value or importance of these numbers
those who die young
The artist idolizes individuals who had a short life
are all my heroes
These people are the artist's role models
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.