Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf Lyrics Meaning – A Soul’s Wild Escape Through the Corridors of Time
Lyrics
Way down in the valley tonight
There’s a man in the shadows with a gun in his eye
And a blade shining oh so bright
There’s evil in the air and there’s thunder in the sky
And a killer’s on the bloodshot streets
And down in the tunnels where the deadly are rising
Oh, I swear I saw a young boy down in the gutter
He was starting to foam in the heat
Oh, baby you’re the only thing in this whole world
That’s pure and good and right
And wherever you are and wherever you go
There’s always gonna be some light
But I gotta get out, I gotta break it out now
Before the final crack of dawn
So we gotta make the most of our one night together
When it’s over, you know
We’ll both be so alone
Like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone when the morning comes
When the night is over, like a bat out of hell
I’ll be gone, gone, gone
Like a bat out of hell
I’ll be gone when the morning comes
But when the day is done
And the sun goes down
And the moonlight’s shining through
Then like a sinner before the gates of Heaven
I’ll come crawling on back to you
I’m gonna hit the highway like a battering ram
On a silver-black phantom bike
When the metal is hot, and the engine is hungry
And we’re all about to see the light
Nothing ever grows in this rotting old hole
And everything is stunted and lost
And nothing really rocks, and nothing really rolls
And nothing’s ever worth the cost
Well I know that I’m damned if I never get out
And maybe I’m damned if I do
But with every other beat I’ve got left in my heart
You know I’d rather be damned with you
Well, if I gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned
Dancing through the night with you
Well, if I gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned
Gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned
Gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned
Dancing through the night
Dancing through the night
Dancing through the night with you
Oh, baby you’re the only thing in this whole world
That’s pure and good and right
And wherever you are and wherever you go
There’s always gonna be some light
But I gotta get out, I gotta break it out now
Before the final crack of dawn
So we gotta make the most of our one night together
When it’s over, you know
We’ll both be so alone
Like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone when the morning comes
When the night is over, like a bat out of hell
I’ll be gone, gone, gone
Like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone when the morning comes
But when the day is done
And the sun goes down
And the moonlight’s shining through
Then like a sinner before the gates of Heaven
I’ll come crawling on back to you
Then like a sinner before the gates of Heaven
I’ll come crawling on back to you
Well, I can see myself tearing up the road, faster
Than any other boy has ever gone
And my skin is raw, but my soul is ripe
And no one’s gonna stop me now, I’m gonna make my escape
But I can’t stop thinking of you
And I never see the sudden curve ’til it’s way too late
And I never see the sudden curve ’til it’s way too late
Then I’m down at the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun
Torn and twisted at the foot of a burning bike
And I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell
And the last thing I see is my heart, still beating
Breaking out of my body and flying away
Like a bat out of hell
Then I’m down in the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun
Torn and twisted at the foot of a burning bike
And I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell
And the last thing I see is my heart
Still beating, still beating
Breaking out of my body and flying away
Like a bat out of hell
Oh, like a bat out of hell
Oh, like a bat out of hell
Oh, like a bat out of hell (I’ll be gone when the morning comes)
Oh, like a bat out of hell (I’ll be gone when the morning comes)
Oh, like a bat out of hell
The roaring engines, the pounding beats, and the fiery imagery conjured by Meat Loaf’s magnum opus ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ take listeners on an epic journey that transcends mere melodic storytelling. This operatic anthem, drenched in the sweat of a fevered dream, draws a vivid picture that remains as hauntingly beautiful today as it did upon its explosive arrival onto the rock landscape.
It’s more than a song—it’s a saga of the human spirit, captured within the confines of an all-consuming metaphor for freedom, desperation, and the relentless pursuit of love against the setting of an apocalyptic world. Let’s delve into the complex tapestry woven by composer Jim Steinman and brought to life through Meat Loaf’s impassioned delivery.
The Visceral Intensity of Midnight Flights
The sensation of racing through the night, the raw power of escape, manifests palpably as we dissect ‘Bat Out Of Hell’. The ferocity with which this need is conveyed speaks volumes of the primal instinct to flee from danger, to be free from the chains that hold us down—whether they be physical, emotional, or societal.
Meat Loaf’s voice is a vessel transporting the listener through this intense, nocturnal landscape, providing a soundscape so thick with adrenaline that one can almost feel the rush of wind and the heat of pulsing engines racing towards an uncertain dawn.
A Theatrical Love Like No Other
Among the bombast and bravado, at the core of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ lies a tender, albeit tempestuous, love story. The lyrics paint a picture of a romantic bond so strong, it becomes the protagonist’s singular beacon of purity in a world eclipsed by shadows.
This isn’t just a love song; it’s a rock opera love scene, with Meat Loaf’s fervent proclamations of love serving as emotional crescendos that define the song’s narrative arc. The love story is elevated to mythic proportions, its intensity mirroring the high stakes of the protagonist’s flight.
Desperation and Damnation: The Hidden Meaning Unraveled
Below the thunderous surface of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ lies a profound exploration of human desperation and the inevitability of our own mortality. The refrain ‘like a bat out of hell, I’ll be gone when the morning comes’ echoes the unavoidability of the end, the understanding that freedom is ephemeral, and the return to the constraints of life cannot be dodged.
Lyrically, the song toes the line between an exuberant embrace of life’s wild ride and an acknowledgment of the ultimate fate that awaits us all. Each frenzied escape into the night meets the sobering return at dawn, a cycle reflecting our real-world battles between liberation and obligation.
Memorable Lines That Resonate Through Time
Certain lyrics from ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ have embedded themselves into rock history, becoming synonymous with the song’s enduring legacy. ‘And the last thing I see is my heart, still beating, breaking out of my body and flying away…’ captures the beautiful tragedy of striving for freedom, even against the looming specter of death—a sentiment as poetic as it is powerful.
These lines don’t merely punctuate the song; they act as declarations of a soul’s enduring will, a testament to the human condition that Meat Loaf belts out with an authenticity that can only come from genuine connection to the material.
Revving Up Theatrics: The Resurrection of Rock Operatics
Not since the days of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ had rock seen such a grandiose melding of storytelling and musicianship as with ‘Bat Out Of Hell’. Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman didn’t just pen a song; they crafted a theatrical experience that defied traditional structures and elevated the track to an art form in its own right.
The considered juxtaposition of gentle piano interludes and a chugging guitar line followed by the soaring chorus showcases how ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ set the bar for rock operatics, ensuring its legacy as a masterwork that would inspire future generations of musical storytellers.
