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.
Needles And Pins
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had to run away, and get down on my knees and pray that they'd go away
But still they'd begin, needles and pins
Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide
Hey I thought I was smart, I'd won her heart
Didn't think I'd do, but now I see
She's worse to him than me, let her go ahead
Just how to say please, and get down on her knees
Hey that's how it begins, she'll feel those needles and pins
A-hurtin' her, a-hurtin' her
Why can't I stop and tell myself I'm wrong, I'm wrong, so wrong
Why can't I stand up and tell myself I'm strong
Because I saw her today, I saw her face, it was a face I loved, and I knew
I had to run away, and get down on my knees and pray that they'd go away
But still they'd begin needles and pins
Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide
Oh needles and pins, needles and pins, needles and pins
"Needles and Pins" is a classic pop song originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1963, but the version performed by the UK group The Searchers is perhaps the most famous. The song speaks to the pain and heartbreak that comes with unrequited love. The singer speaks of seeing a former lover and being reminded of their love, but knowing that they need to run away and pray for the memories to disappear. The needles and pins refer to the physical pain and emotional turmoil caused by love lost.
The song is a powerful expression of heartbreak and vulnerability. The singer is forced to confront their feelings and run away from the painful memories. The lyrics demonstrate a sense of regret, as the singer wishes they had handled things differently. They struggle with their pride and their desire to hide their tears. The chorus repeats the title phrase "needles and pins," emphasizing the pain and the hurt that comes with love.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw her today, I saw her face, it was a face I loved, and I knew
The singer saw his beloved today and couldn't help loving her.
I had to run away, and get down on my knees and pray that they'd go away
The singer feels that he needs to distance himself from her and pray that his feelings go away.
But still they'd begin, needles and pins
However, he still feels the pain of love, as if being pricked by needles and pins.
Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide
The artist is too prideful to show his emotions and has to hide his tears.
Hey I thought I was smart, I'd won her heart
The artist believed he had won the heart of the woman he loves.
Didn't think I'd do, but now I see she's worse to him than me
He thought he could keep her love, but now realizes she is worse to the man she chose over him.
Let her go ahead, take his love instead, and one day she will see, just how to say please, and get down on her knees
The singer advises the man she has chosen to love instead to let her go, and that one day she will learn to be humble and ask for forgiveness.
Hey that's how it begins, she'll feel those needles and pins, a-hurtin' her, a-hurtin' her
The artist predicts that the woman will feel the same pain of love that he is currently feeling.
Why can't I stop and tell myself I'm wrong, I'm wrong, so wrong
The artist questions why he can't admit to himself that he's made a mistake in loving this woman.
Why can't I stand up and tell myself I'm strong
The artist wishes he could be stronger and resist his feelings.
Oh needles and pins, needles and pins, needles and pins
The song ends by emphasizing the pain and discomfort of love felt by the singer.
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.