Meat Loaf’s iconic power ballad, “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” penned by Jim Steinman, has captivated audiences for decades. However, one particular line has sparked endless debate and curiosity: “What is ‘that’?” Even Jim Steinman himself anticipated the confusion surrounding this enigmatic refrain, which he cleverly recycled from Bonnie Tyler’s song “Getting So Excited.”
Meat Loaf recounted in a 2014 interview, Steinman’s foresight: “When we were recording it, Jim brings up the thing – he says, ‘People aren’t gonna know what that is.'” Meat Loaf, initially confident in the song’s clarity, was proven wrong. The question of “that” became a persistent inquiry throughout his career.
In a memorable 1998 VH1 Storytellers performance, Meat Loaf addressed the enduring question directly. Armed with a giant blackboard displaying the lyrics and a pointer, he playfully took on the role of a professor to dissect the song’s structure. He highlighted the lines preceding each chorus:
“I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t go all the way tonight / I would do anything for love / But I won’t do that.”
“I’ll never stop dreaming of you every night of my life / I’ll do anything for love / But I won’t do that.”
“I’ll never forget the way you feel right now / I will do anything for love / But I won’t do… what?”
The audience enthusiastically responded, “That!”
Meat Loaf, as the professor, then clarified, “Do we understand it? It’s the line before every chorus. In other words, you can insert your own line.”
The genius of “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” lies precisely in this ambiguity. “That” is intentionally left undefined, transforming the song into a personal experience for each listener. It’s not about a specific act Meat Loaf refuses to do; it’s about the listener’s own boundaries in love, the line they themselves would draw. This open-ended nature is a key reason why the song continues to resonate, inviting individual interpretation and ensuring its timeless appeal. The mystery of “that” is not a flaw, but a deliberate stroke of songwriting brilliance, making “Would Do Anything For Love Meatloaf” a truly unique and enduring anthem.
