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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.

Hang 'Em High
Various Artists Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wait until it fades to black
Ride into the sunset
Would I lie to you?
Well, I've got something to say

Grab your six-gun from your back
Throttle the ignition
Would I die for you?

Well, here's your answer in spades

Shotgun sinners
Wild-eyed jokers
Got you in my sights
Gun it while I'm holding on

After all is said and done
Climb out from the pine box
Well, I'm asking you
'Cause she's got nothing to say

The angels just cut out her tongue
Call her 'Black Mariah'
Would I lie to you?
That girl's not right in the brain

Mass convulsions
Strike the choir
By the grace of God
Gun it while I'm holding on

But don't stop if I fall
And don't look back
Oh, baby, don't stop
Bury me and fade to black

She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
So get your gun and leave me by the door

She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
So get your gun and leave me by the door

She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
So get your gun and leave me by the door

She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down
She won't stop me, put it down

Don't stop if I fall
And don't look back
Oh, baby, don't stop
Bury me and fade to black

Don't stop if I fall
And don't look back
Oh, baby, don't stop
Bury me and fade to black

Don't stop, oh, baby, don't stop
Don't stop

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Hang 'Em High" by Various Artists are metaphorical and describe the chilling experience of being hunted down by either a gang or an individual. The verses paint the picture of a cowboy or an outlaw who is being pursued by someone who means to kill them. The line "Wait until it fades to black, ride into the sunset" suggests that the singer's story will soon come to an end, and they will ride off into the sunset never to be seen again. The chorus talks about the singer's determination to fight until the very end, with lines such as "Shotgun sinners, wild-eyed jokers, got you in my sights, gun it while I'm holding on" suggesting that the singer is a force to be reckoned with.

The second verse describes the singer's final moments, with the line "After all is said and done, climb out from the pine box" referring to either the singer's escape from death or their resurrection. The lines "The angels just cut out her tongue, call her 'Black Mariah'" suggest that the singer's demise was caused by the hand of someone else. The final chorus again emphasizes the singer's determination to fight until the very end, with lines like "She won't stop me, put it down, so get your gun and leave me by the door."

Hang 'Em HighVarious Artists Lyrics

Hang 'Em High
Various Artists Lyrics