My Gen X Playlist: I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf

I once knew a guy that loved meat, but had this thing about eating meat off the bone. It totally grossed him out. I guess I can understand his point of view. That gives gnawing on ribs a new name. But honestly, it didn’t quite add up because he had no qualms eating a rare steak. Everybody has their quirks, I guess.

I once had a business trip in Texas. When I went out to lunch with my Texas colleagues, I didn’t want a heavy meal to weigh me down. I ordered mesquite chicken and a Caesar salad. I got a few inquisitive looks as the entire table ordered rare T-bone steaks or thick cut pork chops. What was this California guy thinking? At dinner, I thought to avoid a repeat performance. I ordered prime rib, rare. I remember one of the executives smiling and said, “Yeah, that’s more like it.” That was pretty funny.

On another business trip in the midwest, we went to a restaurant where you picked your cut of meat and then headed over to the grill. In the center of the restaurant, there was an enormous grilling area the size of a small swimming pool. You dropped your meat on the grill while you stood by having drinks, flipped it when ready and then off to your table to eat. It was pretty interesting and fun.

Everybody has a different relationship with meat. I’m OK with people’s different choices. We have many vegetarians in my family and we coexist just fine. I eat meat, but also practice moderation. We mostly eat chicken, turkey, fish or go vegetarian. Red meat is few and far between, but is a treat whenever we have it. And unlike my friend, I have no problems about the bone. Give me a big Fred Flintstone brontosaurus drumstick anytime.

I wouldn’t say I was ever a Meat Loaf fan. But here is a catchy song that I admit I used to like. I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) came out in 1993 and actually hit number one. What won’t Meat Loaf do? Well, here is the list explained.

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.

– songfacts

I didn’t see eat meat off the bone on the list. But then again, that would be weird to incorporate this into the lyrics of a love song.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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
And I would do anything for love
But I won't do that,
No I won't do-

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

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

And some nights you're breathing fire
And some nights you're carved in ice
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever
Seen before, or will again

And maybe I'm crazy
Oh it's crazy and it's true
I know you can save me
No one else can save me now but you

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

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

But I'll never forgive myself if we don't go all the way
Tonight

And 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!

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

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

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

And some days I pray for Silence
And some days I pray for Soul
Some days I just pray to the God
Of Sex and Drums and Rock 'N' Roll

And some nights I lose the feeling
And some nights I lose control
Some nights I just lose it all
When I watch you dance and the thunder rolls

And maybe I'm lonely
That's all I'm qualified to be
There's just one and only
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

And 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. No, I won't do that!

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

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

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

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

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

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

I would do anything for love
Anything you've been dreaming of
But I just won't do...

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

And 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

[Girl:]
Will you raise me up?
Will you help me down?
Will you help get me right out of this Godforsaken town?
Will you make it all a little less cold?

[Boy:]
I can do that!
I can do that!

[Girl:]
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

[Boy:]
I can do that!
Oh, Oh, I can do that!

[Girl:]
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?

[Boy:]
I can do that
I can do that

[Girl:]
Will you cater to every fantasy I've got?
Will ya hose me down with holy water - If I get too hot?
Will you take me to places I'll never know?

[Boy:]
I can do that!
I can do that!

[Girl:]
After a while you'll forget everything
Just a brief interlude, and a mid-summer night's fling
Then you'll see that it's time to move on

[Boy:]
I won't do that
I won't do that

[Girl:]
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

[Boy:]
I won't do that!
No I won't do that!

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