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.
KIDS
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
making momma so proud, but your voice is too loud
we like to watch you laughing
you pick the insects off plants, no time to think of consequences
control yourself take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
the water is warm but is sending me shivers
a baby is born crying out for attention
decisions to decisions are made and not bought but I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot I guess not
control yourself, take only what you need from it a family of trees wanted to be haunted
control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted.
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
The lyrics to "Kids" by Various Artists are a series of cryptic and enigmatic phrases that speak to the fleeting and transitory nature of existence. The opening lines "You were a child crawling on your knees towards it, making momma so proud, but your voice is too loud" suggest a sense of innocence and wonder, but also an inability to fully express oneself. The second line "we like to watch you laughing" seems to imply a kind of voyeuristic fascination with the child's happiness. The following line "you pick the insects off plants, no time to think of consequences" seems to suggest a sense of carefree abandon, but also possibly a lack of responsibility or forethought.
As the song progresses, there is a recurring motif of "control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted." The phrase seems to suggest that we should be mindful of our actions and their consequences, and that there is a kind of interconnectedness between all things. The line "the water is warm but is sending me shivers" suggests a sense of discomfort or unease, perhaps related to the awareness of this interconnectedness.
The final lines of the song "Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted" repeat the central message of the song, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and interconnectedness.
Overall, the lyrics of "Kids" are open to interpretation, but they suggest a sense of wonder, fascination with nature, and a call for greater awareness and restraint.
Line by Line Meaning
You were a child crawling on your knees towards it
As a child, you were eager to reach a goal that was in front of you.
Making momma so proud, but your voice is too loud
Although your mother was proud of you, you were being too noisy.
We like to watch you laughing
It is enjoyable to watch you happy and having fun.
You pick the insects off plants, no time to think of consequences
You were focused on a simple task and unaware of any potential negative outcomes.
Control yourself take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Be mindful of your actions and only take what is necessary, as even nature desires to be valued and appreciated.
The water is warm but is sending me shivers
Despite the warmth of the water, the situation still produces discomfort or fear.
A baby is born crying out for attention
A newborn seeks the attention and care of those around them.
The memories are fade like looking through a fog mirror
Memories are becoming blurry and unclear like the images seen through a foggy mirror.
Decisions to decisions are made and not bought but I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot I guess not
Decisions are made based on personal choice and not by external influence, but it still seems to bring some pain and discomfort.
Control yourself, take only what you need from it a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Again, take only what is necessary as even nature is seeking a sense of purpose and value.
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted.
Reiterating the idea of being mindful and respectful towards nature, even in our desires and needs.
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
Upholding the importance of practicing restraint and thoughtfulness towards the environment.
Control yourself, take only what you need from it, a family of trees wanted to be haunted
The message is repeated once more to solidify the idea and emphasize its significance.
Contributed by Sarah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.