Kershaw played guitar and sang in a number of underground bands from about 1976 before deciding on a career as a songwriter. However, he ended up performing his own songs rather than giving them to others, and signed a deal with MCA Records in 1983, which spawned a debut single, "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", which just missed out on the UK Top 40. At the beginning of 1984, he made his breakthrough when "Wouldn't It Be Good", featuring a video of Kershaw as a chromakey-suited alien, reached Number 4 in the UK charts. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from debut album Human Racing , including the title track and a successful re-issue of his debut single, which ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it got to Number 2 in the UK.
Despite winning awards, attracting admirers for his writing such as Elton John & Eric Clapton. He gainied a huge teenage fanbase, Kershaw was not without his critics. Some complained that he did too much onstage when he had a competent backing band called the Krew to play all the required guitar and keyboard parts of his songs.
Kershaw, who was married to long-time love and backing singer Sheri, then released a single called "The Riddle", which would send fans, journalists and linguists into overdrive, as each tried to establish what the meaning was behind the strange set of circumstances and clues which Kershaw put in the verses and chorus (though it in fact later turned out to be hastily created nonsense). Another major hit, it was also the title track of his second album, which also spawned two more UK Top 10 hits, "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote".
In July 1985 Kershaw was among performers at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium. His star began to wane soon afterwards and he enjoyed only one more UK Top 40 hit, the debut single from his third album, Radio Musicola. Radio Musicola, despite receiving critical acclaim, was a flop in the UK charts. After this, Kershaw teamed up with 'We Built This City' producer Peter Wolf for his fourth album, The Works. After neither Kershaw or Wolf were happy with the results, Kershaw re-recorded the album with producer Julian Mendelsohn. The Works failed to chart in the UK, but it’s debut single, One Step Ahead, charted at No. 55. The albums failure led to him being dropped by MCA Records.
After The Works, Kershaw retired from recording music in favour of his original career path as a songwriter. His prowess as a songwriter served him well in 1991 when his song The One And Only, appeared on the soundtrack to the Brittish movie Buddy's Song and in the American film "Doc Hollywood", and provided a UK Number 1 single for the star of the film, Chesney Hawkes (son of the Tremeloes' Chip Hawkes). In 1993 The Hollies had a minor hit with another of his songs, The Woman I Love. Kershaw featured prominently as a vocalist on Tony Banks’ album Still, along with penning some of the tracks.
1999 saw the release of the Britpop-styled 15 Minutes, a collection of songs that are generally more personal and mature, and that he could not envisage being recorded by other artists. Both this and the more commercial To Be Frank (2001) are stylistically different from his earlier work by being underpinned by acoustic guitar rather than synthesiser.
These were followed by 'You’ve Got To Laugh', another collection of acoustic-led songs and 'EI8HT', a commercial MOR pop album brought on by the 80s revival and also led to the return of synthesisers in his music. Kershaw released his latest album, Oxymoron, in 2020 and is in the process of releasing a series of EPs, Songs from a Shelf. He still performs regularly.
For more information visit the official site at http://www.nikkershaw.net
What Do You Think of It So Far?
Nik Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've had nothing and you wanted for nothing
You take a look through the open door
See it all going on out there
Time goes by, time goes by
And if you didn't laugh you could almost cry
What do you think of it so far?
Do you think about where you are?
Do you wonder where you're going?
Five days a week for a slice of pie
Six pack of beer for an anaesthetic
You laugh a lot but you don't know why
And you don't seem to care 'bout that
Life goes on, life goes on
You don't know what you've got 'til it's almost gone
What do you think of it so far?
Do you wonder where there might be something better?
Do you think about where you are?
Do you wonder where you're going?
This three piece suite
These aching feet
This one way street
This funny old town
This unmade bed
These thoughts unsaid
These books unread
This merry go round
Time goes by
And if you didn't laugh you could almost cry
Life goes on, life goes on
You don't know what you've got 'til it's almost gone
What do you think of it so far?
Do you wonder where there might be something better?
Do you think about where you are?
Do you wonder where you're going?
The song "What Do You Think of It So Far?" by Nik Kershaw is a reflective piece on life and the choices one makes. The opening lines "You've had it all and you wanted more / You've had nothing and you wanted for nothing" suggests that no matter one's circumstances, there is an insatiable desire for more. This is further emphasized in the lines "Five days a week for a slice of pie / Six pack of beer for an anaesthetic" where the character finds temporary relief in material possessions and vices. However, the chorus poses important questions - "What do you think of it so far? / Do you wonder where there might be something better? / Do you think about where you are? / Do you wonder where you're going?" - urging the listener to reflect on their current state and whether they are truly happy.
The bridge of the song is particularly powerful, with the repetition of "This three piece suite / These aching feet / This one way street / This funny old town / This unmade bed / These thoughts unsaid / These books unread / This merry go round". It highlights the monotony of life and the things left unsaid or undone. The final verse brings the song full circle, emphasizing the importance of time and the need to appreciate what one has before it is gone.
Overall, "What Do You Think of It So Far?" is a poignant song that encourages reflection and appreciation for the present.
Line by Line Meaning
You've had it all and you wanted more
You've had many opportunities and achieved success, but you still desire more.
You've had nothing and you wanted for nothing
You've experienced a lack of material possessions, but it didn't cause significant dissatisfaction, as your basic necessities were met.
You take a look through the open door
See it all going on out there
You observe the events of the world and see how everything unfolds.
Time goes by, time goes by
And if you didn't laugh you could almost cry
As time passes by, you experience various emotions and if you don't keep a sense of humor you could become overwhelmed with sadness.
What do you think of it so far?
Do you wonder where there might be something better?
Do you think about where you are?
Do you wonder where you're going?
Are you satisfied with your current situation or always thinking about something better? Do you contemplate your current location and the direction you're headed?
Five days a week for a slice of pie
Six pack of beer for an anaesthetic
You laugh a lot but you don't know why
And you don't seem to care 'bout that
You work five days a week to get a small reward, use beer to numb yourself, and laugh without understanding why. You also seem uninterested in understanding why you have certain behaviors.
Life goes on, life goes on
You don't know what you've got 'til it's almost gone
Life is constantly moving forward, and you may not fully appreciate what you have until it's almost gone.
This three piece suite
These aching feet
This one way street
This funny old town
This unmade bed
These thoughts unsaid
These books unread
This merry go round
You reflect on various aspects of your life, including your furniture, physical pain, lack of options, current location, unproductive behavior, unsaid thoughts, unread books, and repetitive experiences.
Time goes by
And if you didn't laugh you could almost cry
Life goes on, life goes on
You don't know what you've got 'til it's almost gone
Similar to previous verses, time keeps moving forward, and without humor, you could be overwhelmed with sadness. Also, your dull and routine life may only be appreciated when you are losing what you had.
What do you think of it so far?
Do you wonder where there might be something better?
Do you think about where you are?
Do you wonder where you're going?
This refrain is repeated, encouraging you to consider the same notions mentioned before: satisfaction, improvement, reflection, and direction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NIK KERSHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
flynbike
One of Nik's many, many gems. Simple but extremely tasty writing and playing, great hooky chorus and lyrics.
Hope he's doing well, and happy off all the joy his music has brought to me and others.
hippapotamoth
This is the best quality version of this song I have yet to find! Thank you!
John O'Shea
soulful voice
Jakub Gogola
Nik covers himself the best
Psycho Karaoke
So far I've been surprised I've liked a few of his songs because I don't generally like anything disco-ee or mechanical.
King Dave
You are welcome! Yes, I download only High Quality sound here,
King Dave
@VittellaY You are welcome.