Their musical style has varied considerably over the years, as has their line-up with the core of Henk Hofstede (vocals, guitar, also the band's lyricist), Rob Kloet (drums, percussion) and Robert Jan Stips (keyboards; also had stints in Supersister, Gruppo Sportivo and Golden Earring).
Although most of the band's songs are sung in English, Nits have been praised as a group that is 'European' more than anything else, staying relatively far away from American and British influences. They are an 'album band', not a 'singles band', although they had a number of considerable hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The biggest hit in their native Netherlands was "Nescio" (1983), a tribute to the Dutch author Jan Hendrik Frederik Grönloh a.k.a. Nescio. The hit that brought the band to the attention of an international audience was "In the Dutch Mountains" (1987), which has become their signature song.
The band released dozens of studio albums, from The Nits (1978) to the triptych Angst, Knot and Neon in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Three of their studio albums reached the top 10 of the Dutch album charts, but their highest charting album was the 1989 double live album, Urk, which hit #2 in The Netherlands and still stands as a near-perfect introduction to the group's work.
On 16 May 2022 the band's own studio and 'headquarters', De Werf in Amsterdam, burned down. The group's archives, as well as many instruments and master tapes, went up in flames. Hofstede sings about the tragedy on 2024's mini album, Tree House Fire. Its release marked the start of Nits' anniversary year: the band celebrated its 50th anniversary with an international tour and two special performances in Amsterdam's Carré Theatre in April.
All Or Nothing
Nits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the house on the hill
Where the tree is falling
And I think I will
Come back, come back
To the house no more
Where the water's burning
And they knock on your door
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
All or nothing for me
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
It's all for me
She said:
"The man in the street
Will break your heart
They try to mend it
But it falls apart"
So come back, come back
To the house on the hill
Where the tree is falling
And I think I will
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
All or nothing for me
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
It's all for me
The lyrics of Nits's song "All or Nothing" seem to describe a person who is trying to escape from a place where things are not going well. It's like they've tried everything they could to make it work but to no avail. The first few lines describe a house on a hill where a tree is falling. This could symbolize the decay of something beautiful and the inevitability of change. The singer seems to be torn between leaving the house and staying there. They are unsure about what to do.
In the chorus, the singer seems to have made a decision. They say "when it's all or nothing" which suggests they are going to take a risk and go all in. They are ready to face the consequences and hold nothing back. The phrase "all or nothing" also suggests that they are at a turning point in their life where they have to make a bold move to succeed.
The last verse of the song suggests that the singer is seeking advice from someone they trust. The person tells them about the risks involved in pursuing their dreams but also encourages them to go for it. In the end, the singer decides to go back to the house on the hill where the tree is falling. It's like they are ready to face the challenges head-on and take control of their destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
Come back, come back
Asking someone to come back to a place they used to know.
To the house on the hill
Referring to a house located in an elevated area.
Where the tree is falling
A tree that is collapsing or about to fall down.
And I think I will
Expressing a desire to return to a place they had once appreciated.
Come back, come back
Encouraging someone to return to a place they used to belong to.
To the house no more
Not to the house anymore or not to a place that has turned against them.
Where the water's burning
Water that is too hot or uncomfortable to touch.
And they knock on your door
A situation where someone is intruding into one's privacy or freedom.
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
A time when one has to make a decision with no other option.
All or nothing for me
Choosing to commit fully or not at all.
She said:
Someone else's statement being relayed.
"The man on the street
A man that they have encountered in the past or present.
Will break your heart
The man mentioned previously has caused emotional distress.
They try to mend it
Others may try to assist in healing the pain, but they can't fix it entirely.
But it falls apart"
Despite the attempts to repair it, it remains broken.
So come back, come back
Encouraging someone to return to a familiar place where they feel secure.
To the house on the hill
To the elevated house with a falling tree as previously mentioned.
Where the tree is falling
Reiterating the state of the tree from before.
And I think I will
Expressing a contemplation of returning to a place of fond memories.
Ohh, when it's all or nothing
Repeating the idea of a significant decision needing to be made.
All or nothing for me
Reiterating the commitment to a definitive choice and the consequences that come with it.
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.