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.
IT'S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the streets are paved with gold Sure, everyone was gay, Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square, Till Paddy got excited, Then he shouted to them there: It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. (repeat) Paddy wrote a letter To his Irish Molly-O, Saying, "
Should you not receive it, Write and let me know!" "
If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly, dear," said he, "
Remember, it's the pen that's bad, Don't lay the blame on me!
It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there.
Molly wrote a neat reply To Irish Paddy-O, Saying "
Mike Maloney Wants to marry me, and so Leave the Strand and Piccadilly Or you'll be to blame, For love has fairly drove me silly: Hoping you're the same!" It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know!
Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!
It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there.
The lyrics of the song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" tell the story of an Irishman who comes to London and finds himself surrounded by the excitement of the city. As he walks down the streets and hears the people singing about their love for Piccadilly, Strand, and Leicester Square, he gets caught up in the moment and joins in. However, he soon realizes that his heart is still in Tipperary, where the sweetest girl he knows lives. He decides to write to her, asking for her to write back and let him know if she receives his letter. He apologizes in advance for any spelling mistakes he might make, blaming his pen, not himself.
As the song progresses, we get to see the reply from the Irishman's sweetheart, Molly. She tells Paddy that Mike Maloney wants to marry her and urges Paddy to come back home before he loses her forever. She admits that love has made her crazy, and she hopes Paddy feels the same. The song ends with the repeated refrain of how long the way is to Tipperary, but Paddy's heart is there.
Line by Line Meaning
Up to mighty London Came an Irishman one day.
An Irishman traveled to London.
As the streets are paved with gold Sure, everyone was gay,
The Irishman saw London as a place of opportunity and excitement.
Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square,
The people in London were enjoying the city and its landmarks.
Till Paddy got excited, Then he shouted to them there:
The Irishman became excited and spoke up to the people around him.
It's a long way to Tipperary, It's a long way to go.
He remarked that it is a long journey to Tipperary.
It's a long way to Tipperary To the sweetest girl I know!
He misses someone special in Tipperary.
Goodbye, Piccadilly, Farewell, Leicester Square!
He is saying farewell to some of the famous places in London.
It's a long long way to Tipperary, But my heart's right there. (repeat)
Despite the distance, he feels emotionally close to Tipperary.
Paddy wrote a letter To his Irish Molly-O, Saying, "Should you not receive it, Write and let me know!"
He wrote a letter to his love in Tipperary, asking her to keep in touch.
"If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly, dear," said he, "Remember, it's the pen that's bad, Don't lay the blame on me!
He humorously acknowledges that he might make mistakes in his letter, but he is not at fault.
Molly wrote a neat reply To Irish Paddy-O, Saying " Mike Maloney Wants to marry me, and so Leave the Strand and Piccadilly Or you'll be to blame, For love has fairly drove me silly: Hoping you're the same!"
Molly responded that someone else wants to marry her and urges Paddy to return home or lose her love.
Contributed by Avery L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.