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.
Sway
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better of me
Sometimes when you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you, pull me out in time
Don't let me drown, let me down
I say it's all because of you
And here I go, losing my control
I'm practicing your name
So I can say it to your face
It doesn't seem right to look you in the eye
Let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth
Indeed it's time tell you why
I say it's infinitely true
Say you'll stay, don't come
And go like you do
Sway my way, yeah
I need to know all about you
And there's no cure and no way to be sure
Why everything's turned inside out
Instilling so much doubt
It makes me so tired, I feel so uninspired
My head is battling with my heart
My logic has been torn apart
And now, it all turns sour
Come sweeten every afternoon
Say you'll stay, don't come
And go like you do
Sway my way, yeah
I need to know all about you
Say you'll stay, don't come
And go like you do
Sway my way, yeah
I need to know all about you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
Now, it all turns sour
Come sweeten every afternoon
It's time tell you why
I say it's infinitely true
Say you'll stay, don't come
And go like you do
Sway my way, yeah
I need to know all about you
Say you'll stay, don't come
And go like you do
Sway my way, yeah
I need to know all about you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
It's all because of you
The song "Sway" by Various Artists expresses the intense emotions of love and the vulnerability of falling deeply in love with someone. The opening lines of the song urge the person not to stray and go away because the singer knows that they are susceptible to being overwhelmed by their feelings. The first verse talks about how powerful the attraction between the singer and the person they love is, and how it can feel like an ocean that they can get lost in. They ask the person not to let them drown and to be there for them whenever they need saving. They acknowledge that it is all because of this person that they feel this way.
The chorus of the song is a plea from the singer to the person they love to not come and go like they usually do. They want the person to sway their way and to allow them to know more about them. The second verse is about the confusion and doubts that come with such intense emotions. The singer talks about how tired they feel and how their head and heart are constantly battling it out. They feel uninspired and lost. However, they still acknowledge that everything they feel is because of the person they love.
The bridge of the song talks about how everything has turned sour and how they want the person to sweeten up every afternoon. They finally say that they want to tell the person why they feel the way they feel, and that it is infinitely true. The chorus is repeated once again, emphasizing the feeling of wanting the person to stay and not leave. The song ends with a repetition of the fact that everything they feel is because of the person they love.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and emotional expression of the power of love and the effect it can have on a person. It captures the intense feelings of vulnerability, confusion, doubt, and ultimately, the need to be with the one they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't stray, don't ever go away
Please don't leave me, stay by my side.
I should be much too smart for this
I feel like I should know better than to fall for you, but I can't help it.
You know it gets the better of me
Your presence has a strong effect on me and sometimes I lose control.
Sometimes when you and I collide
Our interactions can be explosive and overwhelming.
I fall into an ocean of you, pull me out in time
I get lost in your presence and need you to help me find my way back to reality.
Don't let me drown, let me down
Please don't disappoint me or let me down in our relationship.
I say it's all because of you
My feelings and emotions are a direct result of being with you.
And here I go, losing my control
I can't help but let go and allow myself to be swept away by my feelings for you.
I'm practicing your name
I'm trying to perfect the way I say your name, so I can say it to you anytime I want.
So I can say it to your face
I want to be able to express my feelings for you directly and to your face.
It doesn't seem right to look you in the eye
I feel nervous and unsure when I try to look you directly in the eye.
Let all the things you mean to me
I want to express how important you are to me and what you mean to me.
Come tumbling out my mouth
I want to express my feelings, but it's hard for me to find the right words.
Indeed it's time tell you why
It's time for me to open up and tell you how I truly feel.
I say it's infinitely true
I truly believe that what I feel for you is infinite and true.
Say you'll stay, don't come and go like you do
I want you to commit to being with me and not to leave me hanging like you have in the past.
Sway my way, yeah, I need to know all about you
I want you to be interested in me and my life as much as I am in yours.
And there's no cure and no way to be sure why everything's turned inside out
I don't understand why my feelings have become so complicated and messy.
Instilling so much doubt
My confusing feelings are leading me to question everything about our relationship.
It makes me so tired, I feel so uninspired
My emotions are draining and are causing me to feel exhausted and uncreative.
My head is battling with my heart
My logical thoughts are in conflict with my emotions and feelings.
My logic has been torn apart
I feel like my rational thinking has been disregarded in favor of my feelings for you.
Now, it all turns sour
The emotions that were once so sweet and innocent have now turned negative and bitter.
Come sweeten every afternoon
I want to bring back the happiness and sweetness that we once shared together.
It's all because of you
Everything that I'm feeling and experiencing is because of my relationship with you.
Contributed by Jackson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.