Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 20… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor with a powerful, wide-ranging voice, famous for his theatrical live shows. He is on the list of best-selling music artists. His Bat Out of Hell trilogy — Bat Out of Hell (1977), Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993), and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006) — has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. The first album stayed on the charts for over nine years, as of 2016 still sold an estimated 200,000 copies annually, and is on the list of best-selling albums.

After the commercial success of Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, and earning a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", Meat Loaf nevertheless experienced some difficulty establishing a steady career within the United States. The key to this success was his popularity in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Ireland. He received the 1994 Brit Award in the United Kingdom for best-selling album and single. He appeared in the 1997 film Spice World and he ranked 23rd for the number of weeks spent on the UK charts in 2006. He ranks 96th on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". Meat Loaf appeared in over 50 films and television shows, sometimes as himself or as characters resembling his stage persona. His film roles include Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Robert Paulsen in Fight Club (1999). His early stage work included dual roles in the original Broadway cast of The Rocky Horror Show. He also appeared in the musical Hair, both on and Off-Broadway.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf

Studio albums
Bat Out of Hell (1977)
Dead Ringer (1981)
Midnight at the Lost and Found (1983)
Bad Attitude (1984)
Blind Before I Stop (1986)
Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993)
Welcome to the Neighbourhood (1995)
Couldn't Have Said It Better (2003)
Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (2006)
Hang Cool Teddy Bear (2010)
Hell in a Handbasket (2011)
Braver Than We Are (2016)

Burning Down
Meat Loaf Lyrics

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If it takes them so long, so long to say yes, why don't they just say no
We don't need anyone to be put to the test, why don't they let us be

[Chorus]
Livin' for the right to be, livin' for the right
Livin' for the right to be, livin' for the right
Livin' for the right to be free

We needed a plan, we needed defences, they couldn't raise a smile
As the world looked down, they raided our senses, there can be no reconcile

[Chorus]

Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down

There was a time in our life was taken for granted, it'll never come again
Our flower is dead, the seed is unplanted, they put it all to the flame

Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down
Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down

[Chorus]

Burnin' down, burnin' down

Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Meat Loaf's Burning Down are reflective of the rebellious mindset of the time, which was fueled by political and social turmoil in the USA. In this song, Meat Loaf questions the slow pace of change and government's lack of action to assuage the concerns of the people. He asks, "If it takes them so long, so long to say yes, why don't they just say no?" This line holds special significance as it voices the frustration of the people against the government's non-committal stance on various issues.

The song's central theme revolves around the struggle for freedom and the right to be heard. Meat Loaf sings about the mayhem and destruction the people can cause if their demands for freedom are continually ignored. The chorus, "Livin' for the right to be free," is a proclamation of the people's determination to fight for their rights and not succumb to oppression. The final verse echoes the sense of loss of a generation's opportunities and ideals, which have been subsumed by war and destruction.

Overall, Burning Down is a song about resistance in the face of oppression and social unrest. It speaks to the revolutionary spirit of the '70s and the power of music to articulate political messages.

Line by Line Meaning

If it takes them so long, so long to say yes, why don't they just say no
Why do people take so long to give a decision when they can simply reject it?

We don't need anyone to be put to the test, why don't they let us be
We don't want someone to test us, why can't people leave us alone?

[Chorus] Livin' for the right to be, livin' for the right, Livin' for the right to be, livin' for the right, Livin' for the right to be free
We are living for the right to exist in this world and be free.

We needed a plan, we needed defences, they couldn't raise a smile
We needed help, we needed security, but no one showed any interest in our cause.

As the world looked down, they raided our senses, there can be no reconcile
As the world watched, our spirits were broken, and there is no way to fix the harm that has been done.

There was a time in our life was taken for granted, it'll never come again
We didn't appreciate the good times when we had them, and now they are gone.

Our flower is dead, the seed is unplanted, they put it all to the flame
Our hopes and dreams have been crushed, as if someone set them on fire.

Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down
Everything is falling apart and coming to an end.

Burnin' down, burnin' down
Life as we know it is being destroyed and reduced to ashes.

Burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down, burnin' down
Everything is falling apart and coming to an end.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY RANKIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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