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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.

What Child Is This?
Various Artists Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Overall Meaning

"What Child Is This?" is a carol that tells the story of the Nativity of Jesus, focusing mainly on the relationship between Mary and her son. The first verse opens up with an explanation of the scene that Christmas is all about, a newborn baby lying on Mary's lap. The second line introduces the concept that this child is special in some way because angels are singing to Him while shepherds tend the flock. In the chorus, we learn that the baby is Jesus, the King, and that the shepherds are guarding Him while the angels sing.

The second verse changes the tone a bit, presenting the dilemma that this baby has been born in a "mean estate," lying where the animals feed. It then goes on to say that Jesus, although still a baby, silently pleads for the sinners in the world. In the third verse, the lyrics turn even darker, with the foresight that Jesus will eventually be put to death by crucifixion, a tragic fate that He is enduring for the sake of sinners. The final verse calls on anyone who might hear the song to bring gifts to lay at the feet of this newborn King, regardless of their social status.

Overall, "What Child Is This?" is a beautiful reminder of the wonder, humility, and sacrifice of Christmas. It emphasizes that the birth of Jesus is one of the most significant events in world history and calls on anyone who encounters this story to well, do something - to bring their best gifts to lay at the Savior's feet.

Line by Line Meaning

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
Who is this Child who is peacefully resting?

On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Is sleeping on Mary's lap?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
Who is welcomed with sweet songs by the angels?

While shepherds watch are keeping?
While the shepherds keep watch?

This, this is Christ the King
This Child is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Whom the shepherds guard and the angels sing about.

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
Quickly, bring Him praise.

The Babe, the Son of Mary.
He is the son of Mary, the Babe.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Why is He lying in such a lowly place

Where ox and ass are feeding?
Where the ox and donkey are feeding?

Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
Christians, be afraid for yourselves. You are sinners