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.
J.O.S. Days
Nits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between two football fields
With the name of the men killed on the battle fields
They were center forwards, keepers and backs
They thought they would win
It's a family tradition
To play in football team
I have nephews, dumb but tall
I've got flat feet and my knees are weak
They all thought it was time to start my J.O.S. days
J.O.S. days
The last war in this country
The fighting lasted four days
I see one name again
He had my age and my first name
He thought he would win like in his J.O.S days
J.O.S. days
They had too many boys
Who wanted to be in a team
So in one day, in one match
You had to prove your ability
I was knocked out, a real disgrace
A break with the family tradition of the J.O.S. days
J.O.S. days
I can live without a finger
I can live without a toe
But the head is necessary
The song "J.O.S. Days" by Nits describes the life in a post-World War II European town where football is a family tradition. The lyrics describe a war memorial situated between two football fields, which lists the names of men who were killed on battlefields. The lines "They were center forwards, keepers and backs, They thought they would win, It's a family tradition, To play in football team" suggests that football and war were interconnected in the town and that the men who fought in battles may have also played football.
The vocals continue to describe the family tradition of football, and how even the dumb and tall could be a part of the team. The song takes a personal note as the artist talks about himself and how he is not as physically strong as his nephews but was still expected to take part in the football tradition. The song also touches upon World War II and the four-day battle that took place in the town. It describes how soldiers, who fought in the war, never expected to lose, much like local football players. In the end, the lyrics reveal how the artist was unable to carry on the tradition of playing football and notes that the head is necessary while stating "I can live without a finger, I can live without a toe, but the head is necessary."
Line by Line Meaning
The war monument is still standing
The monument dedicated to the war is still upright
Between two football fields
It is located in between two soccer fields
With the name of the men killed on the battle fields
It has the names of soldiers who lost their lives in the war
They were center forwards, keepers and backs
They belonged to different positions in the soccer team, including forwards, goalkeepers and defenders
They thought they would win
They had a belief that they will come out as victorious
It's a family tradition
Playing football is a tradition in the family
To play in football team
To be a part of a football team
I have nephews, dumb but tall
The singer has inane but tall nephews
Who, still foetus, kicked the ball
Even when in the womb, they played football
I've got flat feet and my knees are weak
The singer has flat feet and weak knees
They all thought it was time to start my J.O.S. days
Everyone believed it was a good moment to initiate the singer's J.O.S days
J.O.S. days
Refers to the days when the singer was part of the football team
The last war in this country
The war that recently happened in the country
The fighting lasted four days
The hostility continued for four days
I see one name again
The singer observes the name of a person once more
He had my age and my first name
This person was of the same age and had the same name as the singer
He thought he would win like in his J.O.S days
He had faith he would triumph, just like his football team in the J.O.S days
They had too many boys
There were numerous boys who were interested in being a part of the team
Who wanted to be in a team
They were eager to be part of the football team
So in one day, in one match
In one day, in just one match
You had to prove your ability
One had to showcase their skills and talent
I was knocked out, a real disgrace
The singer was knocked unconscious, which is truly shameful
A break with the family tradition of the J.O.S. days
The singer's knockout is a break from the family tradition of participating in the soccer team during the J.O.S. days
J.O.S. days
The days when the family used to play as part of the football team
I can live without a finger
The singer is stating that he can survive even without a finger
I can live without a toe
The singer claims he can survive without a toe
But the head is necessary
But the head is crucial
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENDRIK HOFSTEDE, R. KLOET, ROBERT STIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnnymouse886
so great memorys,thank you so much for posting its one of the best antiwar songs! Thanks to the land who can make shoes from trees.
@robertmangl6954
I, too, can live without a finger. I, too, can live without a toe. But the head ... is necessary.
@ma-yacookyabbypopsy8997
❤❤❤
@vuilnisgek
ouwe shit... blijft goed
@mariosstefanopoulos7287
Summer 2015
@sariitajarvi439
the nits - j.o.s.days - i had three ones. you were interesting. mine are dead.
@mennisdink5175
They were center forwards
keepers and backs
@NoAngryYoungMan
Dear Nits friends, our new single “Beyond my grief” is out. Henk has always been an inspiration to us! Hope you enjoy it ! https://youtu.be/dbrF_RAlUyw NAYM from Belgium
@annemagerman4812
Leeft Henk Hoefstede nog ?
@MEGATOPPERS
https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henk_Hofstede_(musicus)