The term Various Artists is used in the record industry when numerous singers and musicians collaborate on a song or collection of songs. Most often on Last.fm, compilation album tracks appear under the name of Various Artists erroneously because the individual artist is not listed in the album's ID3 information.
Compilation albums, for example.
Sometimes, single releases may be credited to Various Artists when their profits are going to charity and, usually in high-profile cases, are sometimes known by a group name. Examples include Band Aid with their releases of Do They Know It's Christmas? and USA for Africa with We Are The World.
Various Artists is also an actual performance name for Torsten Pröfrock, who runs the German DIN label. Torsten performs also as Dynamo, Erosion, Resilent, Traktor besides some others. He's a good friend of Robert Henke and since the Fall of 2004, he is a member of Monolake.
Various Artists was also a short-lived Bristol punk band formed by brothers Jonjo and Robin Key (originally from Birmingham). Other members were also simultaneously in Art Objects who went on to become The Blue Aeroplanes, the latter the Key brothers also co-wrote some songs and were involved in. When Various Artists imploded, the Key brothers went on to form Either / Or.
Various Artists also appear on tracks from musical theater soundtracks, due to the nature of having many cast members on one song, as well as an ensemble in some cases.
Amen
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time to cleanse yourself of sin
Get thee down upon your knees
'Cos non-belief is a disease, Amen
Come all ye faithful, heed the bells
This trip could save you all from hell
Burning crosses through the night
So you hear your shephard calling
My wraith won't be denied
Don't stand there looking sheepish
Come and join the flock inside
Who says these people are insane
It's only brainwash, quite humane
A thousand channels take your pick
Another mystic lunatic, Amen
Think you can challenge me come on
I've seen 'em all off one by one
Old Gallileo's long forgot
Though he was right and we were not, Amen
Deliver you from evil
That never was the plan
To those who fall for this one
Deserve the lousy hand
This twisted truth, this slight of hand
Has kept the devil in command
Beyond those gates up in the sky
Sign up now for apple pie, Amen
The lyrics to Various Artists' song Amen touch on themes of religion and the manipulation of believers by those in positions of power. The opening lines invite the listener to enter the singer's house and cleanse themselves of sin, insinuating that the singer is a religious figure leading the way to salvation. However, the following lines suggest that the singer may not have the best intentions, as they encourage the listener to get down on their knees and declare non-belief a disease.
The subsequent verses continue to explore the dark side of organized religion, calling out the manipulation and brainwashing that can occur. The singer urges listeners to heed the bells and join the "holy fight," which includes burning crosses through the night. The lyrics question the sanity of those who blindly follow religious leaders, suggesting that they are brainwashed and easily controlled.
The final verse takes a slightly more optimistic tone, acknowledging that those who fall for the manipulation deserve better than the "lousy hand" they have been dealt. However, the last line once again suggests that joining the religious flock is equivalent to signing up for a false promise of happiness and fulfillment.
Overall, the lyrics to Amen are a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following religious leaders and the importance of maintaining critical thinking skills in the face of manipulation.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my house please come on in
I welcome you into my world and invite you to experience it with me.
It's time to cleanse yourself of sin
It's important to address any negative actions of the past to move forward in a positive way.
Get thee down upon your knees
Taking a humble position can help reflect on oneself and one's actions.
'Cos non-belief is a disease, Amen
One should have faith in something, whether it be a higher power or oneself, as it helps guide through life.
Come all ye faithful, heed the bells
Those who believe should listen for guidance and opportunities to grow and connect with others.
This trip could save you all from hell
By opening oneself to new experiences and beliefs, one may find a better path than the one they were headed towards.
Burning crosses through the night
A powerful symbol calling for people to align with the message and join together.
Come and join the holly fight, Amen
Join us in our mission and fight for the cause we believe in.
So you hear your shephard calling
When someone needs guidance, he or she should listen for signs of wisdom and leadership.
My wraith won't be denied
My spirit and vision is strong and will not be ignored or dismissed.
Don't stand there looking sheepish
Take charge of the situation and make decisions confidently.
Come and join the flock inside
Join our community and embrace the shared beliefs and experiences.
Who says these people are insane
Some may dismiss us as crazy or irrational, but they don't know the full story.
It's only brainwash, quite humane
Our way of thinking is simply a different perspective and is just as natural and normal as any other belief system.
A thousand channels take your pick
There are countless options and paths to choose from, but it's important to find the best fit for oneself.
Another mystic lunatic, Amen
There will always be those who don't understand, but that doesn't diminish the power and worth of our beliefs.
Think you can challenge me come on
I am confident in my beliefs and welcome discourse and discussion.
I've seen 'em all off one by one
I have been through many debates and experiences, and have emerged stronger and more steadfast in my beliefs as a result.
Old Gallileo's long forgot
The ideas of great minds of the past may have been overlooked or even punished, but their legacy remains.
Though he was right and we were not, Amen
Sometimes those who challenge and inspire us are ahead of their time and may not be fully appreciated until after they are gone.
Deliver you from evil
We strive to help others find freedom from negativity and toxicity in their lives.
That never was the plan
Although it may not always happen, we do our best to help others improve their lives and reach their full potential.
To those who fall for this one
Unfortunately, some may fall for false promises or ideas that do not align with reality or truth.
Deserve the lousy hand
Those who are misled or tricked into negativity or harm by others do not deserve their fate, but it is important to overcome and learn from those experiences.
This twisted truth, this slight of hand
Although some may deceive or manipulate others for their own gain, the truth will always come out in the end.
Has kept the devil in command
Negativity and evil often hold powerful sway over individuals and society, but we strive to counteract those forces and bring light to the darkness.
Beyond those gates up in the sky
Although the afterlife may be a mystery, we believe there is something greater beyond our current world.
Sign up now for apple pie, Amen
Join us in our community and ideals for a better present and future.
Writer(s): James William Somerville, John Angus Winfield
Contributed by Alaina E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.