“You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” by Meat Loaf

“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” is sorta reminiscent to “Paradise by the Dashboard Light“, another track from Bat Out of Hell. And that is because both are premised on the vocalist being, most simply put, aroused, as well as in a setting where it is he alone with the apple of his eye. When you put those two realities together, of course Meat Loaf is desiring to get it on with the addressee.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Meat Loaf's You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) at Lyrics.org.

However, in this case, he isn’t trying to take it all the way per se but rather seems more content with just making out. And concerning the title, such is actually a popular colloquialism pointing to the idea of two parties thinking the same way, in that one would be about to say something, but the other would rather state it before he gets around to doing so. 

In this narrative, the vocalist “was just about to say I love you” to the addressee. So the implication is that she beat him to the punch in that regard.

However, it is poetically clarified that she didn’t actually say ‘I love you’ first. Instead, it is evidently the way they proceed to passionately kiss which convinces the vocalist that the addressee does in fact feel the same about him as he does her.

Furthermore, her ‘taking the words out of his mouth while they’re kissing’ is meant to be sort of an actual yet poetic allegory, more in tune with Meat Loaf’s standard comedic leanings, as in she literally sucked the words out of his face.

Takeaway

So most easily explained, this could be classified as a love song. But on a more, shall we say carnal level, the highlight of the lyrics would be the vocalist celebrating having made out with the lady he adores. It has been put forth that the reason he’s so giddy is because this is his first kiss, though that theory is not actually supported by the lyrics.

"You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" Lyrics

When was You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth” released?

This song marks the first song Meat Loaf (1947-2022) dropped as a soloist. It is the lead single from his debut solo album, “Bat Out of Hell”. It should be noted that prior to that, he came out with a studio album alongside Shaun Murphy entitled Stoney and Meatloaf.

“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” was released, via Epic Records, on 21 October 1977. And to note, whereas in more recent times Meat Loaf may have been known more as an actor and all-around eccentric personality (for instance having portrayed the very memorable role of Robert Paulson on Fight Club), he was in fact mega successful as a musician. That is to say that the aforementioned “Bat Out of Hell”, at the time of his passing in early 2022, “remains one of the top 10 selling albums of all time”.

Who wrote You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth”?

The writer of this song, Jim Steinman (1947-2021), went on to become Meat Loaf’s most-notable behind-the-scenes’ collaborator. This was reportedly the song which initiated their musical partnership, being written, at Meat Loaf’s behest, in 1975. 

The intro in particular, which is a chat between Steinman and an actress by the name of Marcia McClain, is also said to have been what got Cleveland International (i.e. Epic Records) interested in dropping Bat Out of Hell in the first place. 

And for the record, Steinman actually wrote that skit as part of a musical he came out with entitled Neverland, which was very influential on the album as a whole.

You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)

More Facts

Meatloaf and co. filmed a music video to this song, as with a few other tracks from the album, consisting of the vocalist performing the tunes in a live fashion. And the reason such is notable is because this was well before music videos became vogue in the United States (with Meat Loaf himself having been from Dallas).

Ultimately, “You Took the Words Right of My Mouth” proved to be a top 40 hit in both the UK and US. However, it did not really blow up until subsequent singles from Bat Out of Hell caught on.

The instrumental of this song was inspired by The Who’s 1971 classic track “Baba O’Riley“.

The producer of this track is music industry innovator Todd Rundgren.

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