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.
Jardin d'hiver
Nits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the middle of winter
Cold day
In the middle of winter
Winter garden
Jardin d'hiver
Winter garden
Bundle of light between buildings
Bundle of light between two trees
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
Snow falls
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
A strange day
In the middle of winter
Cold day
In the middle of winter
Winter garden
Jardin d'hiver
Winter garden
Jardin d'hiver
Bundle of light between buildings
Snow falls
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
Snow falls
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
Snow falls
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
The lyrics of Nits's "Jardin d'Hiver" paint a vivid picture of a cold winter day, with snow falling and no sign of a loved one coming. The first stanza sets the scene with the repeated phrases, "A strange day / In the middle of winter / Cold day / In the middle of winter," emphasizing the bleakness of the day. The title phrase, "Jardin d'Hiver," which translates to "Winter Garden," brings a touch of beauty to the setting, but this is quickly overshadowed by the absence of the person the singer is waiting for.
The second stanza adds a bit more detail to the scene, with the image of a "Bundle of light between buildings / Bundle of light between two trees." This suggests a city setting, with streetlights or perhaps lit windows providing the only solace from the darkness of the winter night. The final three lines repeat the phrase "Tu ne viendras pas ce soir" ("You're not coming tonight"), reinforcing the feeling of loneliness and disappointment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Jardin d'Hiver" capture the essence of a cold and lonely winter night, with the repeated phrases and stark imagery creating a sense of desolation and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
A strange day
Today is an unusual day
In the middle of winter
Even though it's winter and it's supposed to be cold, something feels off
Cold day
It's really chilly today
Winter garden
The surroundings resemble a winter garden
Jardin d'hiver
French translation for winter garden
Bundle of light between buildings
A ray of light shining through the gaps between buildings
Bundle of light between two trees
A ray of light shining between two trees
Tu ne viendras pas ce soir
You won't be coming tonight
Snow falls
Snowflakes are falling gently
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J-Ch T
One of the best songs of ‘Omsk’. Superb drumming of Rob Kloet !
titou navigator
superbe titre de the Nits j'adore!