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.
I Only Have Eyes For You
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wait
I start
I hesitate
I am
I breath
I melt
I think of me
Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
All I have is all you gave to me
Is it any wonder I found these
Through you
Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself feel down
Turn away from Eye
It's not enough
Just a touch
It's not enough
I taste
I love
I call
I bleed enough
I hate
I might
I was
I want too much
Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
All I have is all you gave to me
Is it any wonder I found these
Through you
Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself feel down
Turn away from Eye
It's not enough
Just a touch
It's not enough
Just a touch
It's not enough
Just a touch
It's not enough
Just a touch
The lyrics of the song I Only Have Eyes for You by Various Artists speak about self-obsession and the inability to find contentment. The first verse talks about the singer's self-centeredness as he keeps thinking about himself, and even though he tries to move forward, he gets stuck in hesitation. The second part of the verse talks about how his obsession is affecting his sleep as he can't stop thinking about himself.
In the second verse, the singer seems to be addressing their lover as he talks about how the love they share is not enough. He mentions that although he loves them, hates them, and wants them too much, just their touch alone is not enough. This might suggest that his lover is not giving him the same kind of attention that he thinks he deserves or that he seeks more than just a physical relationship.
The chorus of the song reflects on these thoughts as the singer wonders if he found himself through his lover and questions his inability to find peace of mind. The line "turn away from Eye" could indicate a reference to the all-knowing consciousness, which he turns away from as he is too focused on himself.
Overall, the song portrays the self-centeredness and lack of contentment that come with obsessing over oneself and not finding fulfillment in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I lie
I am not truthful with others or myself
I wait
I am not proactive, but rather passive in my approach
I start
I begin new things, but often struggle to finish them
I hesitate
I am plagued by indecision and doubt
I am
I exist, but feel unsure of my place in the world
I breath
I am alive, but my existence feels superficial and meaningless
I melt
I am vulnerable and malleable, easily manipulated and controlled
I think of me
I am selfish and self-centered, only concerned with my own needs and desires
Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
Given all of my flaws and issues, it's no surprise that I struggle to rest
All I have is all you gave to me
My life is defined by external factors, rather than internal satisfaction
Is it any wonder I found these
Despite my lack of agency, I've stumbled upon some meaningful experiences
Through you
My positive experiences are derived from another's influence or actions
Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself feel down
I seek salvation or enlightenment, but ultimately feel disappointed and inadequate
Turn away from Eye
I reject the idea of a higher power or greater purpose
It's not enough
Despite my successes or external achievements, I still feel empty and unfulfilled
Just a touch
Even the smallest amount of progress or positivity is fleeting and insufficient
Writer(s): Harry Warren, Al Dubin
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Geoffrey Jonathan Wilson
Who else loves Art's voice?
I think it was a beautiful voice he had.This song is a real masterpiece in my opinion.
Harry S. Anchan
Listen to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Scarborough Fair", or.... Enough said!
Tommy
His voice is a tenor. My music teacher told me most males are either baritones or bass, my music teacher was pleasantly surprised when I sang my first song in class that’s when I learned I was a tenor. She told me in front of the class many music directors hunt for male tenors for their music groups when seem to be a rarity.
Scott Burton
Art has an angelic voice!
ms7168
I can listen to Art Garfunkel sing all night!
Millie Cusick
I love this song it takes me back to my teens lovely song
Caroline Leighton
I sang this to my husband at our wedding in 2016. No-one knew I was going to do it, and everyone was in tears. I was so nervous, but it was the most beautiful thing singing this to the love of my life surrounded by my family and friends.
Robert Mason
Beautiful song
cerveza
👍👏👏Caroline. I hope you're happy and loved. This song reminds me of the one that got away. Oh well.
silkdestroyer
Sounds like a very lucky man!