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
I won't do that
Anything for love
I would do anything for love
I would do anything for love
But I won't do that
I won't do that

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

Some nights you're breathing fire
Some nights you're carved in ice
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before
Or will again

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
I would do anything for love
And I'll take a vow and seal a pact

But I'll never forgive myself
If we don't go all the way tonight!
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, I won't do that

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

Somedays I pray for silence
Somedays I pray for soul
Somedays I just pray to the God
Of Sex and Drums and Rock 'N' Roll

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

Maybe I'm lonely
And that's all I'm qualified to be
There's just one and only
The 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

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
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 get me right out of this God-forsaken 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, now 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!
Oh, oh now, I can do that!

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

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

[Girl:] After a while you'll forget everything
It was a brief interlude and a midsummer night's fling
And you'll see that it's time to move on

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


Lyrics submitted by holmbom

I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) song meanings
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107 Comments

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  • +10
    General Comment

    There is a new 'that' in every verse, he says I would never lie to you, I won't forgive myself if we don't go all the way, Tonight; I'll never stop dreaming of you every night of my life; I'll never do it better than I do it with you; and when she says the he'll be screwing around sooner or later, that is the 'that' for the last verse.
    Steinman is a great lyricist, too bad he couldn't sing.

    baradakison June 07, 2002   Link
  • +8
    General Comment

    From: fitz42.net/meatloaf/songs/iddoanythingforlove.htm

    There is no trick to this one, folks. Every time Meat sings "I won't do THAT," the word THAT clearly referes to something else he just said in the previous sentence:

    I'd never forgive myself if we don't go all the way I would do anything for love, but I won't do that (he won't ever forgive himself)

    But I’ll never forget the way you feel right now I would do anything for love, but I won't do that (he'll never forget the way she feels)

    But I’ll never do it better than I do it with you I would do anything for love, but I won't do that (he'll never do it better than he does it with her)

    But I’ll never stop dreaming of you every night of my life I would do anything for love, but I won't do that (he'll never stop dreaming of her)

    And, of course, in the end of the song, THAT is very obvious in two verses:

    GIRL: You'll see that it's time to move on BOY: I won't do that (he'll never move on)

    GIRL: Sooner or later you'll be screwing around BOY: I won't do that (he'll never screw around)

    tybrd69on November 05, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think "that" is cheat on her, if you read towards the end.

    Girl:] 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. [Boy:] I WONT DO THAT!! NO i WONT 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

    gorefiston June 21, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Okay, look at the words one more time: "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" Okay, I could be wrong, but here is my opinion: I think he is saying, he would do anything in the world for love, but he won't do "that" In this case, "that" is refering to him never forgetting the way she feels. I agree with what barakadis says, "that" means something different every time it's said, but in the first paragraph I think that "that" is refering back to the sentence or 2 before it. I don't know though, I could be wrong.

    JenLovesNsync1984on May 08, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song reminds me of "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" in the sense that maybe he doesn't really love her. He's saying that he'll do anything for love, just to get laid, and the chick is trying to make him prove it, so he comes back with "but i won't do that"

    https://www.accountkiller.com/reon July 05, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    wow, I feel so complete or something, because it's been years, and I just now got around to reading the lyrics for this song, and I've always liked it, but the "(But i won't do that part)" always made me think it was about one of those "one foot in the door" kinda of deals... but after reading this, I realize i was totally wrong, and i agree with past comments... i interpret this song now as him singing to someone, strongly trying to convince her that he will do ANYTHING for love, but he will NOT do what she fears he'll do -- he will NOT give up, leave, forget, cheat, whatever...

    knowing this now, i see this song in a totally new way. i love it even more. it's a song i could very well be singing. very beautiful. i think everyone would like someone to sing this for them...

    now this song has skyrocketed even higher on my list of fave songs. one of those you have to sing along to sometimes, really.

    delialon June 22, 2006   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    "But I'll never do it better than I do it with you"

    "[Girl:] 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...

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

    Sounds like he won't cheat

    Thia007on November 29, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Dang. Now I'm hungry. Dinner!

    redshiftdazzleron December 08, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    great song...about this guy who is in love with this girl and would do anything for her, but the girl is convinced that he will someday cheat on her, so he might as well do it and get it over with, but that's the one thing the guy won't do for her.

    emmychloeon May 05, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is so beautiful! It enchanted me as soon as I saw the music video.

    Cool_Breezeon July 29, 2002   Link

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