"I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" is a power ballad composed by Jim Steinman and recorded by American rock singer Meat Loaf. It was released in 1993 as the first single from his sixth studio album, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. The song features a female vocalist, Lorraine Crosby, who performs the "But I Won't Do That" lines, though she was credited as "Mrs. Loud" in the album notes.
Origin and Release Following the immense success of Bat Out of Hell (1977), Meat Loaf struggled with subsequent albums. After years of legal and personal challenges, he reunited with songwriter Jim Steinman for Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" was the lead single and became a massive comeback hit for Meat Loaf, propelling the album to multi-platinum sales.
Musical Structure and Lyrical Content The song is characterized by its epic, theatrical rock style, a hallmark of Jim Steinman's compositions. It features a lengthy structure, including spoken-word sections, dynamic shifts, and a climactic duet. The male and female vocals engage in a dramatic conversation about the extremes one would go to for love.
Meaning of "But I Won't Do That" The most widely discussed and often misinterpreted aspect of the song is the phrase "But I Won't Do That." Meat Loaf has consistently clarified that the "that" refers not to some vague, unstated action, but specifically to the actions or conditions that were sung in the immediately preceding lines of the song. Each "I won't do that" directly follows a list of things Meat Loaf's character would do for love. For instance, after declaring he would "forget the sunshine" and "never do it better," he states, "But I won't do that," referring to letting the person "leave alone." Later, after promising to "never forgive myself" if she left, he sings, "But I won't do that," in response to "letting you leave." The "that" is always explicitly defined by the lyrical context of the preceding verses, preventing the character from betraying his core commitment to his lover or to the nature of their relationship.
Reception and Legacy "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" was a global hit, reaching number one in over 28 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It earned Meat Loaf a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo in 1994. The song's elaborate music video, directed by Michael Bay and inspired by Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, also garnered significant attention. It remains one of Meat Loaf's signature songs and a staple of 1990s rock music.