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.
Over The Rainbow
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dare to dream
When someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away upon the chimney tops that's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, then oh why can't I?
If happy little birds fly over the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
The song "Over the Rainbow" from the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" was written by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics). It is a masterful ballad that speaks to the idea of hope and possibility, and the human desire to escape to a land where everything we dream of can come true. The opening lines of the song, "Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby" sets the tone of the song as a dreamlike, almost surrealistic longing for a place that may or may not exist.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the magic of this place, where bluebirds fly and dreams really do come true, and sets up the idea of wishing upon a star. The final verses speak to the desire to escape from a world filled with troubles and worries, to a place beyond the horizon where all of those worries melt away. The final lines, "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?" emphasize the idea that this place is not completely unattainable, and that with a little bit of hope and faith, we might find our way there someday.
Overall, "Over the Rainbow" is a song that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, because it speaks to our universal longing for a better world, and our innate capacity for hope and imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow
In a place that seems too good to be true
Way up high
Very far away in the sky
There's a land that I heard of
I have heard of a magical place
Once in a lullaby
Only in a dream or a calming song
Blue birds fly
The birds of happiness soar
And the dreams that you dare to dream
The dreams that you have the courage to imagine
Really do come true
Can actually become a reality
When someday I'll wish upon a star
One day, when I make a wish on a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
And awaken in a place where all worries are gone
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Where problems dissolve like sugar in water
Away upon the chimney tops that's where you'll find me
High up in the sky, above the rooftops, that's where I'll be
Birds fly over the rainbow
Happiness and joy are constantly present
Why, then oh why can't I?
Why can't I be as happy as those birds?
If happy little birds fly over the rainbow
If small and carefree birds can fly above all struggles
Why, oh why can't I?
Why am I struggling to find happiness?
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kristincaldwell8747
Played this at my son's funeral, July 19th 2020.
Joshua was 30 yrs,
11months and two meeks old.
Today is my birthday and I'm so sad, my heart shattered that day...this is one of the firsts I've been dreading..
Can't stop living , but don't know how to really ..live without him.
Need a miracle ❣
I love you joshie. stay beautiful.
@marinapetrova61
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you’ll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I? i iiii
Well I see trees of green and
Red roses too,
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, «How do you do?»
They’re really saying, I…I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them
grow,
They’ll learn much more
Than we’ll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld
Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that’s where you’ll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I? I hiii
@user-zs2gs4wi5m
Ki Ora from
Your no 1 fan
Dr Rev ANDERSON KIRI LEE HERANGI TEMANA TERENGA HOGG TEHE TEPUEA SEARANKE
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MAORI
BATTALION
MOKOPUNA
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Thanks for your hard work.
Blessings to you.
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@sdb1962
Played this at my son's funeral 6 years ago, he was 28, today is his birthday.
@robertmartin5308
.OMG how do you endure, god bless you.
@edilarteaga8215
R.i.p .very sorry
@jimgrossman5367
Prayers for you and your family. May the Lord of all creation and the one who gave the promise of the rainbow wrap you in his loving arms and bless you with mercies new, afresh every morning. May God keep you, and cause his face to shine upon you
@bosco2023
Happy birthday to your son. This was supposed to be my song when I go. I’m 44 and my dad passed going on 3 years ago of colon cancer. Not trying to weird you out but my dad visits me all the time. And let’s me know what’s going on. He was cremated and he’s over my shoulder as I type. He’s here when he wants to be. Have you had tour son visit?
@crystalhill5367
Thinking of you 💖🌈
@Sadieandkids
My dear husband passed away on July 9, 2023. Right before he passed he said he heard this song and it relaxed him. He said he knew now why I loved the song. He passed away a day and half after telling me this. This was the only song I played at his funeral. 😭 We were together almost 35 years and had 7 Children.
@jayreed9630
God bless you both.
@scottbloom6855
This was the song we played at my Mom's memorial service. She and my dad had been married 11 days short of their 65th wedding anniversary. My dad only lasted 10 months after her passing. H simply could not go on without her, and died of a broken heart.
@KellyBeatty-gw1ku
This was one of my mom's favorite songs