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.
Fun in the Sun
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and A-B-C's
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Think of me and I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climb
Were just seasons out of time
Goodbye, Papa, please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along
Goodbye, Papa, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Little children every where
When you'll see them, I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, it all gone
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, it all gone
Goodbye, Rochelle, my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground
Goodbye, Rochelle, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers every where
I wish that we could both be there
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons, it all gone
All our lives, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climb
Were just seasons out of time
"Seasons in the Sun" is a song by Terry Jacks, which is a cover of a song by Jacques Brel. The song is about saying goodbye to loved ones while reminiscing about past joyful moments. The song starts by bidding farewell to a friend, with whom the singer has shared childhood memories of climbing hills and trees, and learning about love and life. The singer reflects on the happy times they shared, like when the birds were singing and pretty girls were around. The chorus repeats the line, "We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun," emphasizing the happiness that was once shared. The next verse is addressed to the singer's father, as he reflects on his wayward past and acknowledges his father's efforts to guide him on the right path.
The final verse is a goodbye to the singer's lover, Rochelle. The singer praises Rochelle's help in finding the sun and getting his feet back on the ground when he was down. The chorus repeats once again, and the song concludes with the repetition of "All our lives, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun, but the hills that we climb were just seasons out of time." This line means that life is fleeting and the hill may seem high, but in the end, it's just a moment in time, like a season.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend
Farewell to a close companion
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Our friendship began in childhood
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Shared experiences and adventures
Learned of love and A-B-C's
Growing and maturing through life lessons
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees
Endured emotional and physical pain together
Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die
Saying goodbye in the face of mortality
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Acknowledging the beauty of nature
Now that the spring is in the air
Noticing the changing of the seasons
Pretty girls are every where
Noticing the presence of beauty in the world
Think of me and I'll be there
Expressing ongoing friendship beyond death
We had joy, we had fun
Looking back on happy memories
We had seasons in the sun
Remembering seasons of life and change
But the hills that we climb
Recognizing challenges faced in life
Were just seasons out of time
Perspective that challenges are temporary
Goodbye, Papa, please pray for me
Request for spiritual support
I was the black sheep of the family
Acknowledging disconnection from family
Too much wine and too much song
Admitting to past mistakes
Wonder how I got along
Reflecting on personal failings
Little children every where
Noticing the joy of youthfulness
When you'll see them, I'll be there
Expressing ongoing presence in spirit
But the wine and the song
Reflecting on past pleasures
Like the seasons, it all gone
Acknowledging impermanence of pleasures
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
Grateful recognition of a supportive love
And every time that I was down
Appreciating support during difficult times
You would always come around
Valuing a reliable source of comfort
And get my feet back on the ground
Returning to a place of stability
With the flowers every where
Observing the beauty of nature
I wish that we could both be there
Expressing longing for shared experience
But the stars we could reach
Acknowledging human limitations
Were just starfish on the beach
Humility in the face of vastness of the universe
All our lives, we had fun
Reflection on joyous moments of life
But the hills that we climb
Recognizing struggles faced in life
Were just seasons out of time
Putting struggles in perspective of time
Contributed by Emily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.