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.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Various Artists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to meTwo turtle dovesand a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to meThree French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to meFour calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meSix geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to meSeven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meEight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meNine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six
geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meTen lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans
a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to meEleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids
a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to meTwelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle dovesAnd a partridge in a pear tree.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a traditional English Christmas carol that has been popular for centuries. The song describes the gifts given by a true love to his or her partner on each of the twelve days of Christmas, which begins on December 26 and ends on January 6, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. Each day, the recipient receives more and more gifts, culminating in a grand total of twelve sets of each of the twelve gifts mentioned in the song.
The first gift, given on the first day of Christmas, is a partridge in a pear tree. This represents Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as a bird perched in a tree. The pear tree has been interpreted in various ways, including as a symbol of the Church, as a symbol of faith and hope, and as a representation of the Tree of Life.
As the song progresses, the number of gifts increases, and the variety of gifts becomes more diverse. Some interpretations suggest that the gifts represent spiritual or religious teachings, while others suggest they are simply a fun way to celebrate the holiday season. Regardless of their meaning, the twelve gifts have become an iconic part of Christmas traditions around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
My true love sent me a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love sent me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree on the second day of Christmas.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love sent me three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the third day of Christmas.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love sent me four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the fourth day of Christmas.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love sent me five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the fifth day of Christmas.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the sixth day of Christmas.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the seventh day of Christmas.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the eighth day of Christmas.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six
geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the ninth day of Christmas.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans
a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the tenth day of Christmas.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids
a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the eleventh day of Christmas.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five golden rings.
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.
My true love gave me twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the twelfth day of Christmas.
Writer(s): Dennis Scott
Contributed by Sadie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.