I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)

This was Meat Loaf's comeback song. In 1977, his album Bat Out Of Hell produced the hits "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad," "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," and "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)," all written by the piano player Jim Steinman. After a falling out with Steinman and difficulty in his personal life, Meat Loaf released several unsuccessful albums before reuniting with Steinman for Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, which was considered a sequel to the 1977 album. "I'd Do Anything For Love" has a very similar sound to Meat Loaf's previous hits, and the bombastic, piano-driven style went over well with his old fans as well as a new generation of listeners, helping make it a massive hit.

What won't Meat Loaf do for love? Here's the list: Forget the way you feel right now Forgive myself if we don't go all the way tonight Turn back Stop dreaming of you every night of my life See that it's time to move on Be screwing around When he sings, "I will do anything for love, but I won't do that," the "that" is whatever he said in the line before. For example: But I'll never forget the way you feel right now, Oh no - no way I would do anything for love, but I won't do that The "that" in this particular verse is "forget the way you feel right now." Meat Loaf explained this on his VH1 Storytellers episode.

As in "Paradise By The Dashboard Light," Meat Loaf is pouring out his passion in this song in an effort to get with a girl he's fallen for hard. But it's much more romantic than "Paradise" - he seems more interested in love than lust. He explains in very poetic terms how he's feeling and makes it clear he's all in - he'll be with her until the planets stop turning. In the full version of the song, we hear the girl express her concerns, telling him it's all coming from the heat of the moment, but he's soon forget all these lovely words and start screwing around. "I won't do that," he assures her.