Written by: Jim Steinman
Released: 1977
US Charts: #11
UK Charts: #32
Other Charts: #25 (Ireland)
My personal favourite from Meatloaf’s record-breaking Bat Out of Hell album, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” is an enduring, classic power ballad written by one of rock’s greatest songwriters and composers, Jim Steinman. His collaboration with one of rock’s biggest voices brought them both huge success and great hits to remember for all time.
The song captures your attention from the very beginning with a beautiful, soft and memorable piano melody which leads in well to Meatloaf’s vocals in the first verse. As with many other Meatloaf/Steinman collaboration, this song deals with tragedy in love. The song deals with the protagonist telling his lover that they have reached the end of the road and cannot go on any further. The protagonist admits painfully that even though he wants her and needs her, he can never love her. He goes on to say that this shouldn’t be a cause for sadness because a two out of three success rate is not bad.
The way the lyrics are written is a testament to Jim Steinman because they are written in such a way that they extract the full emotional value from the feelings being expressed. This is further emphasised by Meatloaf’s singing which fits perfectly with the emotions needed to be expressed. His big voice is effectively used to show the despair and pain of the protagonist which makes this song so memorable.
This was the highest charting song released from the Bat Out of Hell album, peaking at number 11 in the US and number 32 in the UK. However, I suspect this low placing on the charts is because the entire album was successful meaning that individual singles are not fully supported.
Nevertheless, I hope you appreciate the beauty of this classic song from Meatloaf as much as I do.
Lyrics can be accessed here.
Chords can be accessed here.
Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.
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