Herman Brood (born Zwolle, The Netherlands, 05 November 1946; died Amsterda… Read Full Bio ↴Herman Brood (born Zwolle, The Netherlands, 05 November 1946; died Amsterdam, 11 July 2001) was a Dutch rock and roll musician, painter and media personality.

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.

Help Me
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

His balance act was just a span
from the womb to the tomb
he took a bite in the the circus dust
wondrin' who can you trust
he took a bite in the the dust

Help me

I ain't the kind of ego
to mix up with the psycho's
shootin' shadows on the roof
what bullit's gonna prove
shootin' shadows on the roof
what you're tryin' to prove

Help me

Help me
I can't do it on my own
Help me
I can't do it all alone

Help me

He took a bite as a final showoff
one last terrifyin' laugh
back stage horror exposure in vain
one more idol down the drain
down the drain

Help me
Help me
Help me
I can't do it all alone

Help me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Herman Brood & His Wild Romance's song "Help Me Rhonda" delve into the struggles of a protagonist who is desperately seeking assistance and support. The opening lines, "His balance act was just a span from the womb to the tomb," symbolize the entirety of his life, from birth to death, being a precarious and uncertain journey. The phrase "took a bite in the circus dust" represents his involvement in a chaotic and unpredictable world, where he questions the reliability and trustworthiness of those around him.

The repeated plea for help throughout the song reflects his realization that he cannot face his challenges alone. The lyrics express his acknowledgement that he is not the type of person to mix with unstable individuals ("psycho's") and that he is frustrated by the futility of shooting shadows on the roof, a metaphor for trying to solve problems that have no real solution or purpose.

The verse about taking a "final showoff" and experiencing a "terrifyin' laugh" suggests a sense of desperation and the impulse to do something drastic for attention or relief. The reference to a "back stage horror exposure" represents the pressure and scrutiny he feels, as well as the realization that even idols, whom he may look up to or rely on, can let him down and disappoint him.

Overall, the lyrics of "Help Me Rhonda" depict a plea for assistance from someone who is overwhelmed by the challenges of life and yearns for support to navigate through the chaos and uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

His balance act was just a span
His entire life was like a tightrope walk, constantly teetering between success and failure

from the womb to the tomb
From birth to death, he faced challenges and struggles

he took a bite in the the circus dust
He experienced failure and disappointment in the entertainment industry

wondrin' who can you trust
Feeling unsure about who to rely on or confide in

he took a bite in the the dust
He faced another defeat or setback

Help me
Requesting assistance or support

I ain't the kind of ego
I don't have the same self-centered nature

to mix up with the psycho's
To associate with mentally unstable individuals

shootin' shadows on the roof
Engaging in pointless actions or behaviors

what bullit's gonna prove
What will shooting bullets accomplish?

shootin' shadows on the roof
Continuing to engage in pointless actions