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.
Small Town Boy
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each day as I grow older,
The nights are getting colder.
Some day the sun will shine on me.
Money, I don't have any:
I'm down to my last penny,
But, darling, don't cry over me:
I'll be a big man in town (honest, honey)
I'll be a big man in town (promise, darling)
I'll be a big man in town, just you wait and see:
You'll be proud of me.
They think that I'm a rover,
But my roving days are over.
Someday your folks will welcome me.
I went away a small man,
But I'll come home a tall man.
Then what a pretty bride you'll be.
I'll be a big man in town (honest, honey)
I'll be a big man in town (promise, darling)
I'll be a big man in town, just you wait and see:
You'll be proud of me.
I'm gonna make it, just wait and see.
I'm gonna make it, just wait and see.
Just wait and see,
Girl, I'm gonna make it, just wait and see
The lyrics of Various Artists' song The Man in the Raincoat depict a man's determination to improve his life and earn the respect of others. The singer acknowledges his current financial struggles, expressing that he is down to his last penny, but remains optimistic about his future. He promises his significant other that he will rise to become a successful and respected member of society, pledging to be a big man in town. The chorus repeats this assertion, emphasizing the singer's determination to overcome his difficulties and become someone that others can look up to.
The singer also addresses others' perceptions of him, acknowledging that he may have been seen as a rover or wanderer in the past. However, he asserts that his roving days are over and that he is ready to settle down and make something of himself. He imagines a future where his partner's family will welcome and accept him and when he returns home, he will do so with newfound stature and pride.
Line by Line Meaning
Each day as I grow older,
I am getting older and experiencing harder times
The nights are getting colder.
Life is getting harder
Some day the sun will shine on me.
I hope that someday my life will improve
Money, I don't have any:
I am currently broke
I'm down to my last penny,
I have nearly no money left
But, darling, don't cry over me:
I don't want my loved ones to worry about me
I'll be a big man in town (honest, honey)
I will be successful one day
I'll be a big man in town (promise, darling)
I promise that I will be successful
I'll be a big man in town, just you wait and see:
Believe in me and I will prove myself
You'll be proud of me.
I want my loved ones to be proud of my achievements
They think that I'm a rover,
Others see me as a wanderer
But my roving days are over.
I am done with wandering and want to settle down
Someday your folks will welcome me.
I hope that my lover's family will accept me
I went away a small man,
When I left I was unimportant
But I'll come home a tall man.
When I return, I will be successful and important
Then what a pretty bride you'll be.
I will be fortunate to marry someone so beautiful
I'm gonna make it, just wait and see.
I believe in myself and my future successes
I'm gonna make it, just wait and see.
I am determined to be successful
Just wait and see, Girl, I'm gonna make it, just wait and see.
I am confident that I will be successful
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind