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.
Cotton Eye Joe
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields so handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
and left only men cause of Cotton-Eye Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
The song "Cotton Eye Joe" is a traditional American folk song that has been covered by various artists over the years. The lyrics speak of a character named Cotton-Eye Joe who is responsible for disrupting the lives of many in the town. The first two lines of the chorus explain that if it had not been for Cotton-Eye Joe, the singer would have been married by now. This is because the arrival of Cotton-Eye Joe has caused chaos, heartbreak, and destruction, ultimately leading to the singer’s delay in getting married.
The verses provide more detail as to the arrival of Cotton-Eye Joe and his impact on the town. He is described as having the eyes and smile of a charmer wielding his tools to his advantage, breaking the heart of many women, and causing them to flee from the town. He is also described as a destructive force that seems to enjoy causing chaos for fun. The song poses the question, “Where did you come from, where did you go?” This question is relevant as many people at the time of its origin were migrating or disappearing through the West, making Cotton-Eye Joe’s sudden appearance, impact, and disappearance seem normal.
The song speaks to the realities of life in rural America, where people lived on or near farms and had little entertainment. It is a reminder of how chaotic an outsider can make things, and the impact that individual behavior can hold over a community. The chorus and melody have made it a popular song at dances and parties, and it remains a classic folk song enjoyed by many people today.
Line by Line Meaning
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
Without the presence of Cotton-Eye Joe in my life
I'd been married long time ago
I would have been married by now
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from and where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eye Joe
Where did you, Cotton-Eye Joe, come from
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He arrived in town with a strong and sudden impact
He rode through the fields so handsome and strong
He passed through the fields with great physical appeal and strength
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
He had a charming and manipulative personality that he used to his advantage
But all he had come for was having some fun
His intention was simply to have a good time, regardless of the consequences
He brought disaster wherever he went
His presence caused chaos and destruction wherever he traveled
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
He broke the hearts of the girls he encountered, leaving them devastated
They all ran away so nobody would know
The girls fled in order to keep their heartbreak a secret
and left only men cause of Cotton-Eye Joe
They left behind only men in the wake of the destruction caused by Cotton-Eye Joe
Writer(s): Patrick Edenberg, jan M. Eriksson, Orjan Kjell Anders Oberg
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.