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)
The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
Meat Loaf Lyrics
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Could follow me so mercilessly
It's almost surreal
All the pain that I feel
The future ain't what it used to be
It doesn't matter what they're thinking
It doesn't matter what they're thinking of me
I'm to young to be old
The future ain't what it used to be
Were there ever any stars in the sky
Did the sun ever shine so bright?
Do you have any dreams I could borrow
Just to get me through the lonely night?
Is there anything left to hold on to
When the rivers wash it all away?
Is there anyone left to hold on to
Is there anything left I can say?
[Chorus:]
Say a prayer for the falling angels
Stem the tide of the rising waters
Toll a bell for the broken hearted
Burn a torch for your sons and daughters
The endless night has got a hold of me
Dark days are pulling me forward
And all the tears are washing over me
I'm crying, lost forever
In a future that ain't what it used to be
No more no more no more
It's like a storm that's never ending
It's like a shadow on the land and the sea
There's nothing so sad as
A tomorrow gone bad
The future ain't what it used to be
Some days I feel so numb and empty
And those would be the good days for me
Nothing gets to me now
Unless I'm thinking of how
The future ain't what it used to be
Is there anything left to hold on to
When the rivers wash it all away?
Is there anyone left to hold on to
Is there anything left I can say?
[Chorus]
The future just ain't what it used to be
It's never gonna be like it was
The future just ain't what it used to be
I wish it wouldn't come but it does
I wish it wouldn't come but it always does
In Meat Loaf's song "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be", the singer laments the hardships and pain that seem to follow him everywhere he goes. The lyrics describe a sense of disillusionment with the future and a feeling of hopelessness in the face of adversity. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer reflects on the many bad times that have plagued him and wonders if there will ever be any relief from his suffering.
The song expresses a feeling of isolation and loneliness, as the singer wonders if anyone else is going through the same struggles he is. He asks if there are any stars left in the sky, if the sun ever shines as bright as it used to, and if there are any dreams left to hold on to. The chorus of the song urges listeners to "say a prayer for the falling angels" and "burn a torch for your sons and daughters," suggesting that everyone is going through their own struggles and hardships, and that we all need to support each other in order to get through them.
Overall, "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the difficult times we all face in life, and the need for hope and support in order to persevere. The lyrics are a poignant reminder that no matter how tough things may seem, we are never alone in our struggles, and that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew so many bad times
I didn't expect to face so many difficult situations
Could follow me so mercilessly
Those situations keep coming without any consideration for me
It's almost surreal
It's hard to believe this is really happening
All the pain that I feel
These experiences are extremely painful
The future ain't what it used to be
The future doesn't hold the same potential and hope as before
It doesn't matter what they're thinking
Other people's opinions don't affect me anymore
It doesn't matter what they're thinking of me
I don't care about what people think of me
It's always so cold
Emotions are hard to come by
I'm too young to be old
I still have so much life left, but feel worn down by my experiences
Were there ever any stars in the sky
I question whether anything good ever existed
Did the sun ever shine so bright?
I don't remember the last time something brought joy to my life
Do you have any dreams I could borrow
I'm desperate for hope and inspiration
Just to get me through the lonely night?
I'm struggling to cope with my isolation
Is there anything left to hold on to
I'm searching for something to give me strength
When the rivers wash it all away?
When everything feels like it's falling apart
Is there anyone left to hold on to
I'm looking for someone to lean on
Is there anything left I can say?
I'm unsure of how to express my emotions or communicate with others
Say a prayer for the falling angels
Please offer support and comfort to those who need it
Stem the tide of the rising waters
Prevent further destruction or harm from occurring
Toll a bell for the broken hearted
Mourn for those who have suffered
Burn a torch for your sons and daughters
Provide guidance and protection for the next generation
The endless night has got a hold of me
I'm trapped in a cycle of negative emotions and experiences
Dark days are pulling me forward
I can't escape the pain and hardship, it's all I see ahead
And all the tears are washing over me
My emotions are overwhelming me
I'm crying, lost forever
I feel helpless and hopeless
In a future that ain't what it used to be
I'm struggling to find hope for the future
It's like a storm that's never ending
These troubles keep coming without end
It's like a shadow on the land and the sea
Pain and hardship pervade every aspect of my life
There's nothing so sad as
I can't think of anything more sorrowful than
A tomorrow gone bad
The future looking bleak and uninviting
Some days I feel so numb and empty
I feel completely indifferent to everything
And those would be the good days for me
Even feeling numb is preferable to the pain and despair I usually feel
Nothing gets to me now
I'm desensitized to my surroundings
Unless I'm thinking of how
Unless I'm reminded of the negative experiences I've had
The future ain't what it used to be
The future is lacking the hope and potential it once held
The future just ain't what it used to be
The world and our prospects have changed significantly
It's never gonna be like it was
I can't go back to the way things used to be
I wish it wouldn't come but it does
I dread the future, but it's inevitable
I wish it wouldn't come but it always does
No matter how much I hope or wish for something different, the future keeps coming
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM STEINMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tropicwave1
The Future Ain't What It Used To Be
Meat Loaf
Vocals [Featuring] – Jennifer Hudson
Album: Bat Out of Hell III - The Monster Is Loose
Lyrics by: Jim Steinman
℗ 2006 Virgin Records America, Inc.
I wish it wouldn't come
But it always does
Chimney
Criminally underrated song. Rest easy, king.
Cliff Phillips
Love everything he does. Unique , passionate, puts the song where it needs to be .
Robert DesVeaux
Ballads were made for Meat Loaf...Meat Loaf was made for ballads
spiraljoe1273
This lyric is the truest lyric ever written. I love this version endlessly. It should have been as huge as Total Eclipse and I’d Do Anything cus it’s certainly Jim at his best.
ca140984
fantastic album!!! really love it!!
Shelley Elise
Man, this just hits differently now than it did in 2006.
spiraljoe1273
Brilliant biographical honesty. THIS majestic recording is my truth. I never dreamed I would be divorced as I hit 50. There's nothing as sad as a tomorrow gone bad.
Larry G
I feel your pain. I'm 61 and 3 months ago found out that my wife no longer wants me after 33 yrs
Kit Gusto
How are you?
josiewales44
My wife made that decision when I was turning 40. From 40 to 50 were some of the BEST years of my life. It's a shame that I wasted those 21 year with a woman that told my daughter that she knew that she had made a mistake ONE WEEK after we married. The only good things to come from that marriage were my 2 daughters...the rest was a waste of my life.