I Would Do Anything For Love

Meat Loaf

And I would do anything for love
I'd run right into hell and back
I would do anything for love
I'll never lie to you and that's a fact

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
I won't do that
Anything for love
I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
I won't do that

Some days it don't come easy
Some days it don't come hard
Some days it don't come at all
and these are the days that never end

Maybe I'm crazy
But it's crazy and it's true
I know you can save me
No one else can save me but you

As long as the planets are turning
As long as the stars are burning
As long as your dreams are comming true--
You better believe it!--

That I would to anything for love
And I'll be there until the final act--
I would do anything for love!
And I'll take a vow and seal a pact--

But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way--
Tonight--
I would do anything for love!
Oh, I would do anything for love
Oh, I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
No, I won't do that...

[3X]
I would do anything for love
Anything you've been dreaming of
But I just won't do that...

Somedays I pray for silence
Somedays I pray for a soul
Somedays I just pray to the God of Sex and Drums and Rock'N Roll

Some night I lose the feeling
Some nights I lose control
Some night I just lose it all when I watch you dance and the thunder rolls

Maybe I'm lonely
And that's all I'm qualified to be
There's just one and only
The one and only promise I can keep

As long as the wheels are turning
As long as the fires are burning
As long as your prayers are coming true--
You better believe it!

That I would do anything for love!
And you know it's true and that's a fact
I would do anything for love!
And there'll never be no turning back!

But I'll never do it better than I do it with you
So long--
So long--
I would do anything for love
Oh, I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
No no I won't do that

[7x]
I would do anything for love
Anything you've been dreaming of
But I just won't do that...

But I'll never stop dreaming of you
Every night of my life--
No way--

I would do anything for love
Oh, I would do anything for love
Oh, I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
No, I won't do that!

Ellen:
Will you raise me up?
Will you help me down?
Will you get me right out if this Godforsaken town?
Will you make it all a little less cold?

Meat:
I can do that!
oh, I can do that!

Ellen:
Will you hold me sacred?
Will you hold me tight?
Can you colorize my life I'm so sick of black and white?
Can you make it all a little less old?

Meat:
I can do that!
Oh, I can do that!

Ellen:
Will you make me some magic
With your own two hands?
Can you build an emerald city with these grains of sand?
Can you give me something I can take home?

Meat:
I can do that!
Oh no now, I can do that!

Ellen:
Will you cater to every fantasy I got?
Will ya hose me down with holy water--if I get too hot--?
Will ya take me to places I've never known?

Meat:
Now I can do that!
oh ah I can do that!

Ellen:
After a while you'll forget everything
It was a brief interlude
And a midsummer night's fling
And you'll see that it's time to move on

Meat:
I won't do that!
I won't do that!

Ellen:
I know the territory-I've been around
It'll all turn to dust and we'll all fall down
Sooner or later you'll be screwing around

Meat:
I won't do that
I won't do that

Anything for love
I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
No I won't do that

Notes

"I Would Do Anything For Love" was written by Jim Steinman and was the hit song on Meat Loaf's comeback album of 1993, Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell.

Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman collaborated in 1977 on the huge hit album, Bat Out Of Hell. Between the two albums Meat Loaf had a few hits, jobs in the movies and on stage, numerous bad luck moments, and a falling-out with Jim Steinman.

Bat Out Of Hell II was a big comeback for Meat Loaf and Steinman as the album hit #1 on the charts in both the U.S. and the UK.

Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday in Dallas, Texas. There are several stories about how he acquired his nickname, but the most common one is that while in high school he stepped on his coach's foot who painfully shouted, "Meat Loaf."

Meat Loaf originally became an accountant but he moved to Los Angeles and began playing with a band called "Electric Prunes" who recorded and played locally.

Meat Loaf formed his own band which gained notice from his huge presence and voice and their use of fireworks on stage.

He went to Michigan and gained popularity with a group called, "Popcorn Blizzard." Then came the groups, "Floating Circus" and "Meat Loaf Soul" who opened for The Who, Igg Pop, and Ted Nugent.

Meat Loaf went back to L.A. to perform in the cast of the musical, "Hair." He teamed with a cast member, Stoney, and made a fine gospel/soul album called, "Stoney and Meatloaf."

Meat Loaf returned to a touring production of "Hair" and met Jim Steinman in New York who felt that Meat Loaf's style and voice were perfect for the Wagnerian rock opera syle of songs that Steinman envisioned.

In 1975 Meat Loaf opened at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway with the "Rocky Horror Picture Show," which became a big hit. Meat Loaf later appeared in the movie version.

Steinman and Meat Loaf began rehearsing songs for a futuristic rock opera version of "Peter Pan," called "Neverland." The show never reached full production and eventually evolved into Bat Out Of Hell.

Meat Loaf and Steinman chose Todd Rundgren to produce the album but ran into roadblocks while trying to produce and market the album. Eventually, the album became a slow success, reaching #14 in the U.S. and #9 in the UK. It stayed on the charts for five years.

In 1990 Meat Loaf reunited with Jim Steinman and went to work on Bat Out Of Hell II. It featured epic length songs as in the original Bat Out Of Hell.

The song, "I Would Do Anything For Love" was the most popular song on the album. It featured the larger than life, over the top style that Meat Loaf's fans originally enjoyed.

Meat Loaf won a Grammy award in 1993 as Best Rock Solo Performance.

"I Would Do Anything For Love" runs nearly 8 minutes in length for the version that received radio play. The album version is about 12 minutes long. This is the longest #1 hit song ever in both the U.S. and UK. It beats The Beatles' "Hey Jude" by 47 seconds.

The female singer in the song is Patti Russo. Lorraine Crosby was featured in the video version.

On a "Story Tellers" episode on VH1 Meat Loaf explained what he meant when he sings, "But I won't do that." Many have wondered what "that" refers to.

Meat Loaf explained that he is referring back to the line just preceding "But I won't do that." For example, "But I'll never forget the way you feel right now." He won't do that. Or, "But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way tonight." He won't do that. Or, "But I'll never do it better than I do it with you." He won't do that. Or, "But I'll never stop dreaming of you every night of my life." He won't do that.