Deciphering Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything For Love” for the (dumb)Masses

One thing that has really bugged me for years is people hearing the song and asking ‘What won’t he do for love?  He says, he’d do anything for love, but he won’t do that?’  And then of course they go off on a nudge-nudge-wink-wink jag of what dirty little things won’t he do?

To figure out what he won’t do, you only have  to go to the lyrics.  It’s not that difficult, if you actually listen.  I guess in their defense, everyone gets caught in the hook of the chorus and not the full lyrics of the song.  Which is a shame if that is the only way you listen to music.  But anyway.. let’s visit the lyrics:

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.

Pretty straightforward.  He’s in love, would go to Hell and back and won’t lie to you.

But I’ll never forget the way you feel right now
- Oh no – no way – I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that, anything for love,
I would do anything for love, I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that.

Oh, here we go, He Won’t do that! But read it over again.. he begins with a ‘But’. And it’s that line that refers to what he Won’t Do.  In other words:

But I’ll never forget the way you feel right now
- Oh no – no way – I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that –( forget the way you feel right now )

This make sense?

Back to the lyrics:

But I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t go all the way – Tonight -
I would do anything for love!
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that…

He won’t forgive himself if they don’t go all the way tonight.

See? Now look at the rest of these, remembering that his first line is what he won’t do.

But I’ll never do it better than I do it with you,
So long – So long – I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that!

But I’ll never stop dreaming of you
Everynight of my life – No Way -

I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
I would do anything for love,
But I wont do that, I wont do that!

And then, towards the end when his love interest joins in, she says…

I know the territory – I’ve been around,
It’ll all turn to dust and we’ll all fall down,
And sooner or later you’ll be screwing around.

And guess what he won’t do?

So, there you go.  And when someone asks you about it, send them here.

And now, go enjoy the song with a new understanding.