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)

Man Of Steel
Meat Loaf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm so afraid to draw you close
Hold me
Before my hands fall away
I'll suffocate
If I can't breathe you in
And hold you there
Forever

I left a message at the hotel
They said you checked out
They said you ain't coming back
I tried to call you
But you turned off your cell
And it said at the tone
Just leave me alone

And I fall apart at the seams
It seems that I always, always fall apart
But as strong as I am
Why can't I break your heart?

I remember how it used to be
Making love to you all night long
I used to take you in my arms
And hold you there until all my strength was gone
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel

I built this prison that I thought was a home
And we both lived here
Guess you were living alone
I'd tear it down if you would only have asked
And I would build you a bridge
So you could come back

And I fall apart at the seams
It seems that I always, always fall apart
But as strong as I am
Why can't I break your heart?

I remember how it used to be
Making love to you all night long
I used to take you in my arms
And hold you there until all your fears were gone
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
I used to be a man of steel
Hey, now tell me why can't you just break my heart?
I used to be an man of steel
And I used to take you in my arms
I loved you from the start
Now you can't tear my world apart

I used to be a man of steel
Now every bit of faith is gone
You used to be so strong
Now you can't even break my heart
I used to be a man of steel
I used to take you in my arms
What's it going to take for us to break down?
And finally fall
Apart at the seams
It seems that I always fall apart
As strong as you are...

As strong as I am...
Why can't you break my heart?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Meat Loaf's song "Man Of Steel" are a heartfelt plea from a man who is reminiscing about the relationship he once had with the person he loves. He is afraid to approach them, as he is worried about the possibility of rejection, yet at the same time, he cannot bear to leave them behind. The song seems to be addressing a past lover who has left without any explanation, and despite making every effort to try and find them, they are unresponsive to his messages and calls. The singer feels like he is falling apart at the seams and unable to maintain his strong façade which once defined him as a "man of steel."

The lyrics acknowledge that he had built a figurative prison and that his actions contributed to the breakdown of the relationship. Still, he wishes that they could have communicated better to make things work. The singer is asking for another chance, and he promises to tear down the walls that he built and make amends. The song conveys how difficult it is to be vulnerable in love and the hurt that comes with putting yourself out there.

Overall, "Man of Steel" is a poignant ballad that explores the challenges of communication, vulnerability in love, and the possibility of second chances. It's a reminder that relationships take more than strength and resilience to survive. They take emotional honesty, understanding, and a willingness to be open and make sacrifices for the other person.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm so afraid to draw you close
I am afraid to be emotionally vulnerable and develop an attachment with you.

Hold me
Comfort me and provide emotional support.

Before my hands fall away
I am losing my grip on my emotions and becoming numb and distant.

I'll suffocate
I feel like I am being stifled and overwhelmed by my feelings for you.

If I can't breathe you in
If I cannot be close to you and experience your love, I will feel like I am suffocating.

And hold you there
And cherish and take delight in our relationship.

Forever
For all time, meaning my love for you is timeless.

I left a message at the hotel
I attempted to contact you and left a message at a location where I believed you would receive it

They said you checked out
The message was received, but it was learned by someone else that you had departed.

They said you ain't coming back
The people I spoke with about you believe that you will not return.

I tried to call you
I sought to speak with you over the phone.

But you turned off your cell
You did not want to speak with me or be contacted on your phone.

And it said at the tone
The voicemail message delivered to you during the phone call.

Just leave me alone
Your response to my attempt to contact you was to tell me to not contact you again.

And I fall apart at the seams
I become emotionally unglued and struggle to hold it together in regards to our relationship.

It seems that I always, always fall apart
It appears to happen continually that I become unhinged when it comes to our relationship.

But as strong as I am
Despite being tough, both mentally and physically, I still struggle with maintaining our relationship.

Why can't I break your heart?
I am puzzled and curious as to why I cannot seem to impact you emotionally, unlike how you affect me.

I remember how it used to be
I recall how wonderful and healthy our relationship was in the past.

Making love to you all night long
Our intimacy was constant, meaningful, and passionate.

I used to take you in my arms
I used to comfort, hold, and cherish you.

And hold you there until all my strength was gone
I used to devote everything I could to you and our relationship until there was nothing left.

I used to be a man of steel
I once had unwavering strength and resilience when it came to maintaining our relationship.

I built this prison that I thought was a home
I attempted to create a space for us to thrive within; however, it unintentionally became a suffocating space.

And we both lived here
Both you and I coexisted in this space together.

Guess you were living alone
You never felt comfortable or healthy in the environment I created for us.

I'd tear it down if you would only have asked
I would have destroyed this oppressive environment if you had vocalized your discomfort.

And I would build you a bridge
I would work to build an emotionally healthy and strong support system for you.

So you could come back
So that you would feel comfortable and safe returning to our relationship.

Hey, now tell me why can't you just break my heart?
I now directly ask you why you don't have any emotional attachment or investment in our relationship, despite the opposite being true for me.

Now you can't tear my world apart
You no longer have the power to emotionally destroy me or our relationship.

Now every bit of faith is gone
I've lost all conviction that our relationship has a future or will be healthy again.

You used to be so strong
You used to have the willpower and heart to stay committed to our relationship.

What's it going to take for us to break down?
What event or action must occur between us so that we can hit the rock bottom, to start anew.

And finally fall, apart at the seams
To finally unravel and dissipate in our emotions toward each other,

As strong as you are...
Despite your determination and resilience,

As strong as I am...
And despite me once being unwavering in our love,

Why can't you break my heart?
You still have the power to detach emotionally in our relationship, impervious to the strong feelings I have for you.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES MICHAEL, NIKKI SIXX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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