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.
Sorrow
Nits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or tell me she's coming tomorrow
But suddenly she's there on my doorstep
She doesn't even cry, cry like the other girls
But suddenly there are tears on my pilllow
Her eyes are gonna burn me down
Every time that she is in my town
She's sorrow
She's sorrow
Her shadow whispers in my ears
When she is telling me about my fears
She's sorrow
She's sorrow
She doesn't even want me
She tells me she is looking for another man
But suddenly she's there at my table
She doesn't even smile, smile like the other girls
But suddenly there's laughter outside my window
Her eyes are gonna burn me down
Every time that she is in my town
I try to swim and then I almost drown
She's sorrow
She's sorrow
Her shadow whispers in my ear
When she is telling me about my fear
She's sorrow
She's sorrow
She doesn't even like me
She calls me a liar and a dreamer
And suddenly she's gone when I wake up
Her eyes are gonna burn me down
Every time that she is in my town
I try to swim and then I almost drown
She's sorrow
She's sorrow
She doesn't even warn me
Or tell me she's coming tomorrow
But suddenly she's there on my pillow
The song "Sorrow" by Nits is a haunting and melancholic portrayal of a woman who enters the singer's life unexpectedly and brings with her a sense of sadness and despair. The lyrics suggest that the woman is unpredictable and uncommunicative. She arrives suddenly, without warning, and disappears just as abruptly. She doesn't cry, but her presence brings tears to the singer's pillow. She doesn't smile, but her laughter can be heard outside his window.
The woman is portrayed as mysterious and elusive, but also dangerous. Her eyes are described as burning the singer down every time she is in town. He tries to swim, but almost drowns in her sorrow. Her shadow whispers in his ear, telling him about his fears. The lyrics imply that the woman is a force of nature that cannot be tamed or understood.
The overall theme of the song is the unpredictable nature of sorrow and the emotions that come with it. The lyrics suggest that sorrow can be both all-consuming and fleeting, arriving unexpectedly and disappearing just as quickly. The woman in the song represents this sense of unpredictability and the complex emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
She doesn't even warn me
She doesn't give me any advance notice
Or tell me she's coming tomorrow
She doesn't inform me of her arrival the next day
But suddenly she's there on my doorstep
But unexpectedly, she shows up at my door
She doesn't even cry, cry like the other girls
She doesn't shed tears like most other girls
But suddenly there are tears on my pillow
But suddenly, there are tears on my pillow
Her eyes are gonna burn me down
Her gaze feels intense and overwhelming
Every time that she is in my town
Whenever she is around my vicinity
I try to swim and then I almost drown
I try to cope, but I feel like I'm struggling to stay afloat
She's sorrow
She is the embodiment of sorrow
Her shadow whispers in my ear
Her presence and influence linger even when she's not there
When she is telling me about my fears
When she's bringing up and discussing my fears
She doesn't even want me
She doesn't desire to be with me
She tells me she is looking for another man
She informs me that she's searching for a different partner
But suddenly she's there at my table
But suddenly, she's present at my table
She doesn't even smile, smile like the other girls
She doesn't display a cheerful expression like most other girls
But suddenly there's laughter outside my window
But suddenly, there's laughter outside my window
She calls me a liar and a dreamer
She accuses me of being dishonest and unrealistic
And suddenly she's gone when I wake up
And suddenly, she's vanished when I awaken
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.