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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.

Have Mercy
Various Artists Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah yeah yeah I love you
But I gotta stay true
My morals got me on my knees
I'm beggin' please
Stop playin' games

I don't know what this is
Cause you got me good

Just like you knew you would

I don't know what you do
but you do it well
I'm under your spell.

You got me beggin' you for Mercy (yeah yeah yeah)
Why won't you release me (yeah yeah yeah)
You got me beggin' you for mercy (yeah yeah yeah)
Why won't you release me (yeah yeah yeah)
I said release me (yeah yeah yeah)

Now you think that I
Will be somethin' on the side
But you got to understand that I need a man who can take my hand
yes I do

I don't know what this is
but you got me good
just like you knew you would

I don't know what you do
But you do it well
I'm under your spell

You got me beggin' you for mercy
Why won't you release me
You got me beggin' you for mercy
Why won't you release me
I said you better release me (yeah)

I'm beggin' you for mercy
Why won't you release me
I'm beggin' you for mercy
You got me beggin, you got me beggin', you got me beggin'

Mercy
Why won't you release me
I'm beggin' you for mercy
Why won't you release me

You got me beggin' you for Mercy
I'm beggin' you for Mercy
I'm beggin' you for Mercy
I'm beggin' you for Mercy
I'm beggin' you for mercy

Why won't you release me yeah

yeah
break it down

Overall Meaning

In "Have Mercy," Various Artists sings of being in love with someone who keeps them under their spell. Although the singer loves their partner, they must stay true to their morals, and they beg for their lover to stop playing games. The lover has the singer under their spell and makes them beg for mercy, but they won't release them. The singer wants a committed relationship with a person who can take their hand and understand their needs.

The chorus contains the phrase "begging for mercy," which implies that the singer feels helpless and yearns for the power to release themselves from the spell of the lover. This song deals with issues of power dynamics in relationships, where one partner has complete control over the other. The singer knows that they are under the lover's control and might be hurt, but they still beg for mercy and plead to be released.

The song's lyrics are simple, repetitive, and catchy, making for a danceable beat. The melody and lyrics complement each other, creating a fun and upbeat arrangement. The song is suitable for clubbing, dancing, and any social events that need pumping up. It is a classic R&B and pop song, and the lyrics' message is universal and relatable.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah yeah yeah I love you
I have deep feelings for you

But I gotta stay true
But I must remain loyal to my beliefs and values

My morals got me on my knees
My principles have brought me to a low point

I'm beggin' please
I'm pleading with you

Stop playin' games
Stop being deceitful

I don't know what this is
I'm unsure of what our relationship really means

Cause you got me good
Because you have manipulated me skillfully

Just like you knew you would
As you expected to do

I don't know what you do
I don't understand how you have such an effect on me

but you do it well
But you are very successful at it

I'm under your spell.
I'm completely under your control