What Meat Loaf meant when he said he would do anything for love, but not 'that'

Earlier today, the family of singer and actor Meat Loaf announced that he had died at the age of 74.

The legendary rocker was best known for his epic operatic rock anthems, with the 1993 hit 'I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)' being perhaps his most popular song.

As the lead single from his album Bat Out of Hell II, the ballad earned Meat Loaf a Grammy Award or Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance and number ones in charts all over the world.

However, despite its popularity, the singer once revealed how the titular lyric "I won't do that" has long been misunderstood.

In a 2014 interview with Yahoo!, the singer revealed that the line doesn't just refer to one thing - it refers to many.

Reflecting on the hit song - which was written by Meat Loaf's long-time collaborator Jim Steinman - he said: "When we were recording it, Jim brings up the thing – he says, 'People aren’t gonna know what 'that' is.' I said, 'Of course they are. How can they not know? He goes, 'They’re not gonna.'"

So what is 'that'?

Well, Meat Loaf explained what he meant.

"It’s the line before every chorus. There’s nine of them, I think," he said. "The problem lies because Jimmy likes to write, so you forget what the line was before you get to, 'I won’t do that.'"

So, according to the song, things that Meat Loaf wouldn't do include "forget the way you feel right now", "forgive myself if we don't go all the way tonight", "do it better than I do it with you" and "stop dreaming of you every night of my life".

He also says he won't do the things that Lorraine Crosby - who also features on the track - sings. In her lyrics, she predicts Meat Loaf will "see that it's time to move on" and "be screwing around", before the rocker replies adamantly, "I won't do that."

Meat Loaf's death was confirmed by his agent and family earlier today (Friday, January 21). No cause of death has been revealed yet.

On the star's Facebook page, his family posted a message reading: "Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight with his wife Deborah by his side."

The rocker sold over 100 million albums worldwide and appeared in movies including Fight Club, Wayne's World and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Our thoughts are with Aday's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Featured Image Credit: Michael Bush / Alamy