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.
My Way
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And so I face the final curtain
My friends I say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've loved a life that's full
I've travelled each and every highway
And more much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets I had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without excemption
I planned each chattered course
Each careful stap along the highway
And more much more than that
I did it my way
Yes there were times
I'm sure you knew
When I bit more off then I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spitt it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
I've loved I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no not me
I did it my way
For what is a man
What has he got
If not himelf than he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
The lyrics of "My Way" by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance highlight the singer's journey as they face the end of their life. At the outset, the singer proclaims that they have lived a full life and faced every challenge that came their way. They claim to have taken control of their life and decided their path without any interference. The singer admits they have some regrets in life but their accomplishments overshadow these regrets. They planned their every step and worked hard on their chosen path with great care. The singer has taken risks in life; they have faced the tough times by standing tall and have conquered their fears while moving on to achieve success.
The lyrics of "My Way" convey a sense of self-efficacy, freedom, and autonomy. The singer believes that life has given them everything, and they have lived on their own terms. They have owned their accomplishments and failures as their own and did not rely on external validation. They have chosen authenticity over conformity and followed their instinct to the fullest. The lyrics encourage listeners to take control of their lives and do what they believe in, without getting influenced by others’ opinions.
Line by Line Meaning
And now the end is near
I am reaching the end of my life
And so I face the final curtain
I am ready to face my last moments
My friends I say it clear
I want to express myself honestly to my friends
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I am confident in the way I have lived
I've loved a life that's full
I have lived a full life with love
I've travelled each and every highway
I have explored countless paths in life
And more much more than this
And beyond all of that
I did it my way
I have lived my life on my own terms
Regrets I had a few
I do have some regrets
But then again too few to mention
But they are not significant enough to discuss
I did what I had to do
I did what was necessary
And saw it through without exemption
And I followed through without exception
I planned each charted course
I carefully planned each step
Each careful step along the highway
Every decision I made contributed to my journey
And more much more than that
And that is not all
I did it my way
I have lived life on my own terms
Yes there were times
I have faced difficult circumstances
I'm sure you knew
I am certain that you are aware
When I bit off more than I could chew
When I took on more than I could handle
But through it all when there was doubt
In the midst of uncertainty
I ate it up and spit it out
I overcame the challenge and moved forward
I faced it all and I stood tall
I faced adversity head on and persevered
And did it my way
And I did it on my own terms
I've loved I've laughed and cried
I have experienced all the emotions of life
I've had my fill my share of losing
I have experienced my share of failures
And now as tears subside
As I come to the end of my life
I find it all so amusing
I find it all to be humorous
To think I did all that
To consider everything I have accomplished
And may I say not in a shy way
And I am not hesitant to state
Oh no, oh no not me
I am not like others
I did it my way
I have lived life on my own terms
For what is a man
What is the true worth of a person
What has he got
What does he truly possess
If not himself then he has not
If not his true self, then he has nothing
To say the words he truly feels
To express his genuine thoughts and emotions
And not the words of one who kneels
And not the words he thinks others want to hear
The record shows I took the blows
My life history indicates I have faced hardships
And did it my way
And I overcame them on my own terms
Contributed by Keira M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.