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.
Don't Blame Me
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep on wakin'
Is that the woman next to me?
Guilt is burning
Inside I'm hurting
This ain't a feeling I can't keep
So blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
So blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Can't you see it, I was manipulated by it
Too little to the dawn
I had no choice in this
I was a friend she missed
She needed me to talk
So blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
So blame it on the night
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
Oh I'm so sorry, so sorry baby
Yeah
Ooh I got defense (oh I promise I'll be better this time, I will be better this time)
Oh I promise (I'll be better this time, I will be better this time)
Don't blame it on me
Don't blame it on me
The song "Don't Blame Me" by Various Artists deals with the theme of taking responsibility for one's actions, though the person is not entirely at fault. Can't be sleepin', keep on wakin' - the song starts with the singer having trouble sleeping, and he wakes up repeatedly. He notices a woman beside him, and guilt is already burning inside of him. He seems to be struggling with the idea of having a one-night stand and not feeling good about it after the act. "This ain't a feeling I can't keep" - the singer knows that he cannot continue to live with this sense of overwhelming guilt every day, and he needs to move on.
The chorus of the song is a plea to not blame him but rather the night for the act he committed. It's an attempt to absolve himself of his actions and place the blame elsewhere. He knows that he was manipulated by the night, and he had no choice in the matter - "Can't you see it, I was manipulated by it, too little to the dawn, I had no choice in this." The singer feels used by someone he cared for and is pleading that the blame should be shifted entirely from him.
The song ends with the singer apologizing for his actions and promising to do better. The lyrics of the song are open to interpretation, but it seems to be about the aftermath of a one-night stand, where the singer feels guilty and wants to be held responsible for his actions to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't be sleepin'
I cannot fall asleep, as I am disturbed by thoughts and guilt.
Keep on wakin'
I keep waking up from sleep, being unable to rest peacefully.
Is that the woman next to me?
I wake up next to a woman and wonder if she is the cause of my disturbance.
Guilt is burning
I am consumed by guilt for my actions.
Inside I'm hurting
I am in pain due to the emotions and regrets I am feeling.
This ain't a feeling I can't keep
These negative emotions are overwhelming me, and I cannot continue this way.
So blame it on the night
I am using the night as a scapegoat for my actions and emotions.
Don't blame it on me
I do not want to take responsibility for my actions and emotions.
Blame it on the night
I am insisting that the night is the cause of my emotions and actions.
Can't you see it, I was manipulated by it
I am trying to convince myself and others that my actions were not my choice, but rather a result of manipulation.
Too little to the dawn
It was too early in the morning for me to have the mental capacity to resist or make good decisions.
I had no choice in this
I am convincing myself that I had no other option but to act the way I did.
I was a friend she missed
I was only acting as a friend, and did not intend for things to escalate.
She needed me to talk
She confided in me and I felt obligated to be there for her, even if it meant crossing boundaries.
Oh I'm so sorry, so sorry baby
I express remorse and apologize for my actions.
Ooh I got defense (oh I promise I'll be better this time, I will be better this time)
I am defensive and trying to prove that I will do better in the future.
Don't blame it on me
I am still trying to avoid taking responsibility for my actions and emotions.
Writer(s): Jerry Paul Marcum, Wayne Perry
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.