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)

Testify
Meat Loaf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come a little closer it's a feeling that I can't deny
I was weak, but I never thought I'd speak about the darker site
Is that a tent? I could repent upon the side of the road
But, I kept on going yeah I headed for another load
I get up from the ground in the middle of the morning
Up from the ground in the middle of the evening
Up from the ground in the middle of the night
Oh, I testify

I was laid upon the grave by a preacher's hand I cannot lie
And, I forsake the many vows I made to be with you tonight
Could you be the salvation cause I never felt like this before
And, could you lend me your hand because I'm falling back on the floor
I get up from the ground in the middle of the morning
Up from the ground in the middle of the evening
Up from the ground in the middle of the night
Oh, I testify

On a road outside of nowhere, in the middle of the night
Well I guess I hit rock bottom and the dawn was not in sight
And a Tempest made of fire, onset the sky aglow
And a sweet young thing called out my name
And this is how it goes, she says...
"Go boy, can you hear them?
Are you falling through the cracks in your eyes?"
And I got down on my knees

I get up from the ground in the middle of the morning
Up from the ground in the middle of the evening
Up from the ground and I'm falling back down
Up from the ground and I testify

Every cut that heals reveals a scar that you can never hope to hide
All the pain that you restrain keeps building up deep inside
If you think you're above it then it's you my friend that I implore
You've got to walk before you run
See the night before dawn
Before you pull yourself off the floor

I get up from the ground in the middle of the morning
Up from the ground in the middle of the evening

Up from the ground in the middle of the night
Oh, I testify

Overall Meaning

Meat Loaf's song "Testify" is a powerful song about redemption and the struggle to overcome one's personal demons. The lyrics describe a person's journey towards self-improvement and self-discovery. The first verse tells of the singer's weakness and their struggle to overcome their inner darkness. The second verse describes the singer's desire for salvation and their willingness to forsake their past in order to attain that salvation. The chorus repeats the phrase "I testify," which can be interpreted as the singer's declaration of their newfound strength and clarity.

The third verse describes the singer hitting rock bottom and encountering a "sweet young thing" who helps them see the light. This encounter is metaphorical and represents the singer's realization that they need to change their ways. The final verse is a call to action, urging listeners to face their own demons and start the journey towards self-improvement. The repeated lines "Up from the ground" represent the singer's determination to rise above their past and become a better person.

Overall, "Testify" is a song about the journey towards self-improvement and the struggle to overcome one's inner demons. It is a powerful anthem that encourages listeners to face their own challenges and become better versions of themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Come a little closer it's a feeling that I can't deny
The singer is inviting the listener to pay closer attention to the song as he talks about an intense emotion that he cannot keep inside.

I was weak, but I never thought I'd speak about the darker site
Although the singer was feeling weak, he didn't expect that he would have to talk about the dark side of his life.

Is that a tent? I could repent upon the side of the road
The singer was seeing a tent and thought that he could repent or seek forgiveness for his sins beside the road if he stopped and got out of his current situation.

But, I kept on going yeah I headed for another load
However, he decided to continue his journey and headed towards another challenge instead of stopping and repenting.

I get up from the ground in the middle of the morning
The singer is describing how he picks himself up from a low point in life in the middle of the morning.

Up from the ground in the middle of the evening
The second verse of the song emphasizes that the singer can pick himself up at any time of the day, indicating that he always tries to keep moving forward.

Oh, I testify
The chorus of the song reiterates the main point that the singer is using his own life story to testify that it is possible to get up and move on after hitting rock bottom.

Every cut that heals reveals a scar that you can never hope to hide
The singer is saying that the scars that he carries from his experiences may fade, but they will always be a part of who he is.

All the pain that you restrain keeps building up deep inside
The singer is warning people not to hold onto their pain and emotions as doing so will only lead to them building up inside and harming them in the long run.

If you think you're above it then it's you my friend that I implore
The singer is urging people not to think that they are above the struggles and pains of life and to take action before it's too late.

You've got to walk before you run
The singer advises people to take small steps before they try to conquer big obstacles and that they need to learn to take life one step at a time in order to move forward.

See the night before dawn
The singer is using this metaphor to say that there will always be a low point before things start to get better.

Before you pull yourself off the floor
The final line of the song urges listeners to not give up and to keep trying to stand up even when life seems to have knocked them down.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN M GRIFFIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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