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.
Clocks
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tides that I've tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
Come out of things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head
And a trouble that can't be named
You are
You are
Confusion that never stops
Closing walls and ticking clocks
Gonna come back and take you home
I could not stop that you now know, singing
Come out upon my seas
Cursed missed opportunities
Am I a part of the cure?
Or am I part of the disease, singing
You are
You are
You are
You are
You are
You are
And nothing else compares
Oh, nothing else compares
And nothing else compares
You are
You are
Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go
Home, home, where I wanted to go
(You are)
Home, home, where I wanted to go
(You are)
The lyrics of Clocks by Various Artists are quite cryptic and abstract, but they can be interpreted as a plea for help, a search for identity, and a struggle with the intimidating forces of the world. The first verse describes a personal crisis where the singer feels lost and defeated, unable to resist the tide of fate. The line "Come out of things unsaid" suggests that there are hidden feelings and secrets that need to be expressed or confronted, while "Shoot an apple off my head" and "Tigers waiting to be tamed" imply that there are challenges to be overcome, risks to be taken, and courage to be summoned.
The second verse continues the theme of conflict and uncertainty, but adds a philosophical angle that questions the singer's role in the grand scheme of things. The lines "Closing walls and ticking clocks" and "Cursed missed opportunities" suggest that time is running out, and the singer is trapped in a cycle of regret and fear. The question "Am I a part of the cure? Or am I part of the disease" echoes the classic dilemma of whether to be a hero or a villain, a healer or a destroyer, and highlights the singer's ambivalence and confusion.
The chorus of Clocks is a repetition of the phrase "You are," which may refer to a person, a deity, a concept, or a state of being. It can be interpreted as a mantra of self-affirmation, a recognition of a higher power or a higher purpose, or a plea for someone to rescue or support the singer. The word "Home" in the outro reinforces the idea of a search for a safe haven, a place to belong, and a destination to aim for.
Overall, Clocks is a song that combines introspection with aspiration, reflection with urgency, and resignation with hope. It invites the listener to join the singer on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, and to find meaning and inspiration in the midst of chaos and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Lights go out and I can't be saved
I feel hopeless and lost, as if I am in complete darkness.
Tides that I've tried to swim against
I have struggled to overcome challenges, but they seem insurmountable.
You've put me down upon my knees
You have broken me to the point where I feel weak and vulnerable.
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
I desperately plead for help and a way out of my struggles.
Come out of things unsaid
I need to express my thoughts and feelings that I have kept hidden.
Shoot an apple off my head
I am willing to take risks and face danger.
And a trouble that can't be named
I am facing a problem that I cannot even identify or describe.
Tigers waiting to be tamed, singing
I must confront my fears and conquer them in order to move forward.
You are
You are the solution, the path forward that I seek.
Confusion that never stops
I am constantly in a state of confusion and uncertainty.
Closing walls and ticking clocks
I feel trapped and pressured by time, with no escape in sight.
Gonna come back and take you home
I will find my way out of this difficult situation and return to a place of comfort and safety.
I could not stop that you now know, singing
I have made mistakes that cannot be undone, and must now face the consequences.
Come out upon my seas
I need to explore new frontiers and embrace new opportunities.
Cursed missed opportunities
I regret missed chances and poor decisions that have led to my current situation.
Am I a part of the cure?
I question whether my actions can serve to help or heal others.
Or am I part of the disease, singing
I worry that my own actions may be causing harm or leading to further problems.
And nothing else compares
Despite my struggles, I know that there is no other path that can compare to the one I am on.
Home, home, where I wanted to go
I long for a place of safety and comfort, where I can be at peace.
(You are)
You are the key to finding my way home, to a place of safety and comfort.
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.