Nits, originally established as The Nits (and sometimes still credited as s… Read Full Bio ↴Nits, originally established as The Nits (and sometimes still credited as such today, even though the article was dropped in 1987), are a Dutch art rock group, established in 1974 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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.

Telephone Song
Nits Lyrics

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(45623-6278-16109-11555)
Give me your number
And I'll give you a call
I am a dreamer and I know I can fall
Oh baby, baby, listen when you're alone
Beep beep

Telephone, telephone, telephone, telephone, telephone, telephone

(45623-6278-16109-11555)
Give me your number
And I'll give you a call
I am a dreamer and I know I can fall
Oh baby, baby, listen when you're alone
Beep beep

Telephone, telephone, beep beep, telephone, beep beep

I saw your number in a telephone book
I tried to call you but it's off the hook
Oh baby, when I'm so far away
I tried to call you from the USA

Give me your number
And I'll give you a call
I am a dreamer and I know I can fall
Oh baby, baby, listen when you're alone
Beep beep

Telephone, telephone, telephone, telephone

Give me your number
And I'll give you a call
I am a dreamer and I know I can fall
Oh baby, baby, listen when you're alone
Beep beep

Telephone, telephone, telephone
Booth

Overall Meaning

The song "Telephone Song" by Nits is a simple love song about a dreamer who wants to connect with the person they love through a phone call. The lyrics begin with an invitation for the listener to share their phone number so the dreamer can call them. The dreamer acknowledges that falling in love can be risky but still wants to take that chance. The repeated "beep beep" motif implies the dreamer's desire to make a connection and for the listener to pick up the phone.

The second verse of the song provides more context for the dreamer's situation. The dreamer has seen the listener's phone number in a telephone book but has been unable to reach them because the phone is off the hook. Despite being far away in the USA, the dreamer wants to call the listener and connect with them through the telephone. The repeated chorus reinforces the dreamer's desire to make a connection and the potential for the telephone to bridge the distance between them.

Overall, "Telephone Song" is a sweet and straightforward love song about the power of communication to connect people who are physically apart. The song's simple lyrics and catchy chorus make it an enduring classic.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me your number
Requesting the person's phone number

And I'll give you a call
The singer promises to contact the person on the other end of the line

I am a dreamer and I know I can fall
The singer admits to having lofty aspirations and the possibility of failure

Oh baby, baby, listen when you're alone
Addressing the person on the other end of the line in a tender and affectionate way, encouraging them to pay attention to what is being said

Beep beep
The sound of the phone being hung up

Telephone, telephone, beep beep, telephone, beep beep
Repetitive sound effects meant to mimic the sounds of calling someone and being disconnected

I saw your number in a telephone book
The singer came across the person's phone number in a directory

I tried to call you but it's off the hook
The phone was not answered or was disconnected

Oh baby, when I'm so far away
Expressing that there is distance between the singer and the person being addressed

I tried to call you from the USA
The singer attempted to call from another location

Telephone, telephone, telephone, telephone
Repetition of the word 'telephone' to further emphasize the theme of the song

Telephone, telephone, telephone Booth
A reference to the days of public telephone booths, which were once ubiquitous for making phone calls

Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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