I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) remains one of Meat Loaf’s most popular songs, but the singer had a complex relationship with the track.
Recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood and released in 1993 as the first single from Bat Out Of Hell’s second album, the work earned the flamboyant music star a Grammy and reached number one in 28 countries.
Regular collaborator Jim Steinman wrote the lyrics, while English singer Lorraine Crosby provided the final few verses, referred to only as Mrs Loud in the sleeve notes.
Cher, Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Tyler were also considered for the role.
However, the repeated line “I won’t do that” has become one of the most misunderstood lyrics in music.
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Meat Loaf has questioned the true meaning of “that” throughout his career.
In fact, the texts themselves explain the meaning of the word.
Each verse mentions two things Meat Loaf would do for love, followed by one thing he will not do – where “that” refers to the promise he made earlier in the verse.
According to the song, things he wouldn’t do include “forget how you’re feeling right now”, “forgive me if we don’t go all the way tonight”, “do better than I do to you” and “Stop dreaming about you every night of my life.”
In a 1998 TV special, he even illustrated the meaning on stage with a plaque and pointer.
After Meat Loaf’s death, singer Rebecca Ferguson referenced the perceived ambiguity of the lyric.
She tweeted: “What was ‘that’ anyway? We’ll never know.”
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I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t) continues to be a popular choice for the first dance at weddings and was introduced to actress Nina Dobrev during a karaoke scene in the 2021 Netflix romantic comedy Love Hard listed.
Comedian/actor Matt Iseman also recently gave a memorable performance of the track on US reality show Lip Sync Battle, wearing a white tunic and performing hip-hugging dance moves reminiscent of Meat Loaf himself.
Another of the singer’s biggest hits, Bat Out Of Hell was released as a single in 1979 and was inspired by the story of Peter Pan and Neverland.
After two minutes of instrumental piano and guitar, the lyrics describe a scene of “bloodshot streets” and a girl who is “pure and good and right” before ending with a dramatic bicycle accident.
The track won the Classic Song Prize at the 2008 Q Awards and placed third in Top Gear’s viewer-voted list of Ultimate Driving Songs.