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.
Distance
Nits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the book that I’ve read
I was sleeping for ages
Now I know I am dead
The trees in the summer
The rivers with ice
I cannot remember
Far far away
No one can say
Where we’ll be tomorrow
Far far away
A man in the distance
The darkness outside
I walk through my head
I walk to the light
Far far away
No one can say
Where we’ll be tomorrow
Far far away
Everything I love
Becomes a memory
Far far away
Nothing today
Not a thing tomorrow
Far far away
Far far away
I’ve got nothing to say
When blue turns to grey
Far far away
The Nits song “Distance” has a haunting and introspective quality that speaks to feelings of displacement and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics appear to describe a person who is coming to terms with their own mortality and the fact that all the things they once cherished and loved will eventually fade away into memory. The opening lines, “I’m turning the pages / Of the book that I’ve read / I was sleeping for ages / Now I know I am dead,” suggest a sense of awakening or realization that life is fleeting and precious.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the beauty of nature (“The trees in the summer / The rivers with ice”) but also notes their inability to fully appreciate it, as if they are disconnected from the world around them. The repetition of “Far far away / No one can say / Where we’ll be tomorrow / Far far away” emphasizes this sense of dislocation and uncertainty, as the singer acknowledges the impermanence of their surroundings and their own existence.
The final lines, “Far far away / I’ve got nothing to say / When blue turns to grey / Far far away,” encapsulate the sense of resignation and acceptance that runs through the song. The singer realizes that they cannot hold onto the things they love forever, but can only cherish them for the brief time they have them. Overall, “Distance” is a poignant and melancholy meditation on the human experience, and speaks to universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m turning the pages
I am reflecting on my past mistakes and experiences.
Of the book that I’ve read
I am analyzing and contemplating the lessons I've learned in my life.
I was sleeping for ages
I was ignorant and unaware of my surroundings for a long time.
Now I know I am dead
I have realized the grave consequences of my actions and the damage I have caused.
The trees in the summer
I am reminiscing on the beauty of nature during the warmer months.
The rivers with ice
I am recalling the cold, harsh but equally beautiful scenery of winter months.
I cannot remember
I have lost the vivid memory of some of the most important and valuable moments of life.
My lost paradise
I have lost an idyllic phase of my life which I can never relive.
Far far away
My past is a distant memory which I cannot relive nor change.
No one can say
It is impossible to predict or forecast what’s to come in the future.
Where we’ll be tomorrow
The future is unpredictable, and no one can accurately determine the outcome of tomorrow.
A man in the distance
I see a person at a faraway distance and wonder what they are doing or thinking.
The darkness outside
I perceive the absence of light outside, which can be associated with emptiness, loneliness or distance in a broader sense.
I walk through my head
I am walking through the inner workings of my mind, reflecting on my life and all my decisions.
I walk to the light
I am journeying towards a positive outcome, and seeking hope and optimism.
Everything I love
Every important aspect of my life that I cherish dearly.
Becomes a memory
These cherished aspects of my life become part of my past and are kept as memories.
Nothing today
There’s nothing significant happening in my life at present.
Not a thing tomorrow
I see no significant changes in my life for the foreseeable future, and nothing seems exciting or interesting.
I’ve got nothing to say
I have nothing new to express or share with others, as my life has entered a stagnant phase.
When blue turns to grey
When a once-bright and hopeful outlook on life turns dull and pessimistic.
Contributed by Thomas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@manfredvandervoort1657
Al meer dan 35 jaar fan. Bijna net zo lang als de NITS bestaan. En nog steeds niet op uitgekeken en geluisterd. Ben nu al m'n gekochte CD's aan het rippen, zowel muziek als geluid. NITS beslaan als enige een hele rij in m'n Lundia kastje. Mooi.
@thierrygeenens8881
K'heb ze gezien verleden jaar en ze leven hun muziek,fantastisch.
@bikermanhydra
Niet alleen de fans blijven hiervan genieten maar gelukkig stralen ze dit zelf ook uit! Nog goed voor minimaal 15 jaar genot!
@sylvananorder1448
Dit blijft 1 van de top nummers van the nits. Geweldig sound heerlijk stem! Ik kan er helemaal in weg dromen.
@hammertheblues9957
This song is so beautifull i'm in love with
@pobeda4768
👍👍👍
@astridhardt
❤ .......
@holmergislason3930
My today's favourite. On and on ... ;-).
@Oldskoolrailroad
Prachtig !
@Cheerio236
Dit is Neerlands Soul