TS: "I Can't Go For That" vs. "I Will Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"

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What is "that"? Why won't Hall, Oates, or Meatloaf do it? Would Dan Perry do "that"?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the same sort of 'you can't quite know' posited by Michael Bolton when he asked "Can I Touch You...There?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Quite honestly, I'm pretty sure where "there" is, Ned.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)

what about "i want it that way"?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:32 (twenty-two years ago)

What is "that"?

A vasectomy, of course.

― Paul Cox (paul cox), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:33 (twenty-two years ago)

this thread is touching me deep inside.

man, i heard the intro to I can't go for that on the radio the other day and i thought it was really excellent! Then the song proper came on and i liked it less; but it's really not that bad a song, is it?

― Dan I., Monday, 19 May 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

botty sex

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:34 (twenty-two years ago)

it's like the girl says in Cruel Intentions 2: "there's one line I won't cross. Not in the butt."

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

That isn't a line, that's a, er, dot.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Can't Go For That" is an excellent song! I got it on a mix cd and was like, hell, this is quite good.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Can't Go For That" ownz Gimix

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

1. I can't believe no one's pointed out the title is actually "I'd Do Anything for Love". What is ILX coming to?

2. H&O do not give any indication as to what "that" might be. Meat gives clearly explains what "that" is in the full 12-minute version (and creates a paradox in doing so, but never mind.)

3. The video for "I'd Do Anything..." (directed by Michael Bay before he became a war criminal) is the greatest of all rock operas.

― b.R.A.d. (Brad), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

oh come on, it's just a teaser for the Celine-Steinman extravaganza

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I choose H&O. I have the song on my computer... i love the opening drum achine part. i am going to sample it someday.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, since none of us are going to actually hunt down the full version of Meatloaf's song and listen to it for 3 hours to figure out his invisible love line, can someone please think of the children and fill us in?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"That" is "screwing around".

Anticlimactic, isn't it?

― b.R.A.d. (Brad), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:24 (twenty-two years ago)

That doesn't even make sense, why would anyone want him to do that for love? God, now I hate that song.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:28 (twenty-two years ago)

haven't you seen 'breaking the waves'?

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

H & O has already been sampled by De La Soul ("Say No Go" from 3 Feet High And Rising), and the rhythm has been "updated" by Stereo MC's ("Traffic" from Deep Down & Dirty).

― blutroniq (blutroniq), Monday, 19 May 2003 04:14 (twenty-two years ago)

yes i know but there are still different paths to follow...

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 19 May 2003 04:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I love that H&O track. - actually just recently discovered my love for H&O.,

― Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Monday, 19 May 2003 05:18 (twenty-two years ago)

In "I Can't Go for That", Hall, who has been having a fabulous sexual relationship ("you got my body" "I'll do anything that you want me to"), cannot go for his lover's suggestion that the relationship deepen into something more romantic and exclusive ("now you want my soul" "being twice as nice") as he suspects that the lover is being disingenuous ("the same old lines").

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Monday, 19 May 2003 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Moresomes!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 19 May 2003 10:50 (twenty-two years ago)

That doesn't even make sense, why would anyone want him to do that for love? God, now I hate that song.

Ally, you crack me up! I've discussed the Meatloaf question many times and have come to the resolution that it's something to do with his own derrierre...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Ally I think Hall and Oates are clearly talking about an outfit. Think about it. First she wants his body, now she wants him to sell his soul by actually being SEEN with her in this hideous get-up? Huh-uh. No can do.

And Meatloaf is talking about enduring a constant stream of petty insults and pointless blather. Key to this theory: imagining jimmy the mod's "yackety-yack hand motion" and the Peanuts grown-up voices in blurry focus behind Meatloaf as he buries his face in his hands.

Or butt-sex, I mean you can never rule out butt-sex. OR MAYBE YOU CAN.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Bottom sex? Well, you know where you can stick that.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, 19 May 2003 12:31 (twenty-two years ago)

How does any of this relate to Sterling's question?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

again i refer you to my answer about meatloaf ally...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoa, the Backstreet Boys are molesting Meatloaf?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

why do you think they are called the backstreet boys...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

That joke is so 1997, Dave.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

oh dear, dear, dear, me... why did i say that... i blame you ally!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, it's all fun and games to blame me until I have you all killed.

Wait, forget I said that.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe we'll find out on Meatloaf's frank and soul-baring compendium of B-sides and rarities, "Loose Meat"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yeah, it's all fun and games to blame me until I have you all killed.

and i always thought you were so pleasant, too...

and Tracer, ugh! and you can't blame ally for that...

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

What, for his loose-ocity? I blame his many years of "riding the hog."

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, I wouldn't do that either if my ass was like a sleeping bag.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait a minute this thread has turned into obvious Meatloaf mockery, WHERE DID WE GO WRONG.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

It's basically all been you, luv.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i thought that ass-sex was a not-so-hidden subtext in all meatloaf songs. i mean, wasn't that what he was really after in "paradise by the dashboard light"? why else would that chick have been so adamant?

i definitely think that "i can't go for that" is all about Darryl telling John that he's not going to bottom for him ... no can do. check out those album covers if you don't think that they were poofs!

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

It's all about butt-sex in the end.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

not "maneater" ... that's all about oral sex. like duh.

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

No it's about the butt! The maneater's vagina dentata are going to "chew you up" so make the babies in her butt if you know what's what.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Wanna Fuck You In... 'That'"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't Do Me Like That"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

on the other hand, "That's the Way (Uh Huh, Uh Huh) I Like It"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm way too into this!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Take That

(and like it!)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

"Can You Get to That?"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

man, I gotta feeling we're gonna find Tracer engorged on the stick shift

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Is That All There Is?"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"the slider"

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn, Tracer, are we finding the theme to your next dj night here or something? What is going on?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 19 May 2003 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

it's your fault ally!

― Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Monday, 19 May 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

heartbreaker strikes again!

― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 19 May 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

sixteen years pass...

the full 12-minute version of 'i'd do anything for love (but i won't do that)' is fucking incredible

― mookieproof, Sunday, 9 June 2019 03:05 (six years ago)

it never flags

― mookieproof, Sunday, 9 June 2019 03:06 (six years ago)

i'd flag long before the 12th minute of Meat Loaf

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 9 June 2019 03:09 (six years ago)

Perceived ambiguity of "that"
Meat Loaf says that the question, "What is 'that'?" is one of the most popular questions he is asked.[5]

Each verse mentions two things that the man would do for love, followed by one thing that he will not do. The title phrase repetition reasserts that he "won't do that." Each mention of "that" is a reference to the particular promise that he made earlier in the same verse.[6] The four things he says he will never do are:

"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"
"stop dreaming of you every night of my life"
At the song's conclusion, the woman predicts two things that he will do: "You'll see that it's time to move on", and "You'll be screwing around." To both of these, the male emphatically responds, "I won't do that!"

In his 1998 VH1 Storytellers special, Meat Loaf even explained it on stage using a blackboard and a pointing stick.[6] In a 1993 promotional interview, Steinman states that the definition of "that" is fully revealed in the song in each of the several verses in which it is mentioned. This sense would have been more clear if the lyric had been "and I won't do that" instead of "but I won't do that." It is the use of "but" instead of "and" that leads to the ambiguity.

It sort of is a little puzzle and I guess it goes by - but they're all great things. 'I won't stop doing beautiful things and I won't do bad things.' It's very noble. I'm very proud of that song because it's very much like out of the world of Excalibur. To me, it's like Sir Lancelot or something - very noble and chivalrous. That's my favorite song on the record - it's very ambitious.[7][8]

Meat Loaf believed that the lyrics were unambiguous, but Steinman predicted that they would cause confusion.[9] An early episode of the VH1 program Pop-up Video made this claim at the end of the song's video: "Exactly what Meat Loaf won't do for love remains a mystery to this day."[10] A reviewer writing for AllMusic commented that "The lyrics build suspense by portraying a romance-consumed lover who pledges to do anything in the name of love except 'that,' a mysterious thing that he will not specify."[11] Frank O'day says the lyrics provide "an enlightening example of how listeners project their own thoughts, values, and concerns onto the meaning of the song with misconstrued lyrics."[4]

The phrase "I would do anything for love but I won't do that" had previously appeared as a spoken interlude in the song "Getting So Excited," released in 1985 by Bonnie Tyler in her album Faster Than the Speed of Night. In this song, the phrase's meaning is more clear: a woman is refusing an offensive proposal. Steinman produced this record and wrote many of the songs but this song is credited to Alan Gruner.

― i will never make a typo ever again (Karl Malone), Sunday, 9 June 2019 03:11 (six years ago)

xp don't sell yourself short

― mookieproof, Sunday, 9 June 2019 03:47 (six years ago)

Sorry, but this song was a feces-filled piñata poised over 1993 like the sword of Damocles.

― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Sunday, 9 June 2019 13:36 (six years ago)

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