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.
Jack in the Box
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On we plow
The big bully try to stick his finger in my chest
Try to tell me, tell me he's the best
But I don't really give a good goddamn cause
I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well
I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well
I wanna grow up
I wanna be a big rock and roll star
I wanna grow up
I wanna be
So no one fucks with me
I got the pencils in my pocket, try to put me down
Wanna go out, gotta get out
To the playground, gonna throw down at the playground
I wanna go out
Next motherfucker gonna get my metal
Next motherfucker gonna get my metal
Next motherfucker gonna get my metal
Next motherfucker
Pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow
I wanna grow up
I wanna be a big rock and roll star
I wanna grow up
So no one fucks with me
The lyrics of "Jack in the Box" by Various Artists elaborate on the theme of school bullying and the desire of the bullied to get even with the bully. The song's persona is a young child who is subjected to incessant bullying by a bigger and stronger kid, referred to as "the big bully." However, the persona remains unbroken and exhibits a strong will to resist the bullying.
The lyrics express this assertiveness, as the persona announces, "Next motherfucker's gonna get my metal" and "I got my lunchbox, and I'm armed real well." The lunchbox here symbolizes a weapon, which the persona has armed themselves with to fight back. The persona also declares their ambition to become a rockstar, which they believe would intimidate any potential bully from targeting them. The lyrics are reminiscent of the popular schoolyard taunt, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." The underlying message is that the bullied will eventually overcome their oppressor.
In summation, "Jack in the Box" is a song that reflects the frustration and desire for retaliation felt by children who face bullying at school. The lyrics encapsulate the theme of resilience and resistance to bullying.
Line by Line Meaning
On we plow
We continue forward, making progress and overcoming obstacles in our path.
The big bully try to stick his finger in my chest
A large, intimidating person attempts to assert their dominance over me through physical force.
Try to tell me, tell me he's the best
The bully tries to convince me that they are superior and unbeatable.
But I don't really give a good goddamn cause
I don't care at all because their words and actions have no effect on me.
I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well
I am prepared with a weapon and ready to defend myself if needed.
I wanna grow up
I desire to mature and become a successful adult.
I wanna be a big rock and roll star
My ultimate goal is to achieve fame and success in the music industry.
So no one fucks with me
I want to become powerful and influential enough that no one will dare challenge me or harm me.
I got the pencils in my pocket, try to put me down
Even if someone tries to insult or belittle me, I have the means to fight back.
Wanna go out, gotta get out
I am eager to leave my current situation and experience new things.
To the playground, gonna throw down at the playground
I am going to confront and physically fight my enemies at the playground.
Next motherfucker gonna get my metal
The next person who tries to harm me will face the full force of my weapon.
Pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow
I am imagining the sound of my weapon firing repeatedly as I defend myself.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.