Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Infobox Single
Name = Paradise by the Dashboard Light


Artist = Meat Loaf
from Album = Bat out of Hell
Released = 1977
Format =
Recorded = 1976
Genre = Classic rock, Wagnerian Rock
Length = 8:28
Label = Epic Records
Writer = Jim Steinman
Producer = Todd Rundgren
[ Certification = ]
Last single = "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" (1977)
This single = "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (1977)
Next single = "Bat out of Hell" (1979)

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is the third hit single by the American musician Meat Loaf, after "Two out of Three Ain't Bad". It is a track off his 1977 album "Bat out of Hell", which was written and composed by Jim Steinman. The song is unabashedly rhapsodic, weaving several melodies throughout the duet, and treats its subject with lighthearted humor.

Three parts

Paradise

This three-part epic opens with part one "Paradise," Ellen Foley and Meat Loaf reminiscing their days as a young high school couple on a date, going for a drive to the lake. Everything is well, and they are getting along just fine. "And now our bodies are oh so close and tight/It never felt so good it never felt so right..." However, as the song progresses it's clear that the boy has a bit more on his mind than just holding his girlfriend. "Baby don't you hear my heart/You've got it drowning out the radio/I've been waiting so long for you to come along and have some fun/And I gotta let you know, no you're never gonna regret it/So open up your eyes I've got a big surprise, it'll feel all right/ I wanna make your motor run." He continues to push the matter, and makes some progress, mirrored by New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto broadcasting a portion of a baseball game that serves as a metaphor at his attempts (see: Baseball metaphors for sex).

Things are looking up, and it appears the boy is going to 'score': "Here he comes, squeeze play/ It's gonna be close/ Here's the throw, here's the play at the plate/ Holy cow, I think he's gonna make it" when suddenly Ellen Foley bursts to life telling him to "Stop right there!"

Let Me Sleep on It

The girl begins refusing to go any further unless the boy promises that he will marry her, love her forever, and stay faithful to her. Part two "Let Me Sleep On It" begins, as the boy can't make up his mind, begging her to continue on for the time being and he'll tell her in the morning. This answer doesn't satisfy the girl and a song/argument takes place.

Finally, everything gives way for the boy and he begins "I couldn't take it any longer/ God, I was crazy / When the feeling came upon me like a tidal wave / Started swearing to my God/ And on my mother's grave/ That I would love you till the end of time / I swore I would love you till the end of time."

Praying for the End of Time

As part three "Praying for the End of Time" begins, things snap back to the present instead of reminiscing the long-ago date. Things are not perfect like they were before, but the boy and the girl are sticking to their vows, despite wanting everything to be over and done with. "So now I'm praying for the end of time / To hurry up and arrive / 'cause if I got to spend another minute with you I don't think that I can really survive/ I'll never break my promise / Or forget my vow / But God only knows what I can do right now/ I'm praying for the end of time / It's all that I can do! / Praying for the end of time / So I can end my time with you!""It was long ago and it was far away and it was so much better than it is today...repeat...repeat as the song fades out."

As song fades you hear a male voice (Meat Loaf) singing "It was long ago and it was far away and it was so much better than it is today." While a female voice sings, "It never felt so good it never felt so right and we were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife." The male voice is in the left channel and female in the right channel.

Video

Although Ellen Foley is recorded on the album, another woman, Karla DeVito, was used for the video and for performances. [cite web | work=Karl Devito | title=Karla DeVito's biography |url=http://karladevito.homestead.com/Biography.html| accessdate=2006-09-24] This would also happen for Meat Loaf's 1993 hit "I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)", where Dana Patrick mimed to Lorraine Crosby's vocals.cite web | work=songfacts.com | title=I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2952| accessdate=2006-08-29]

uccess

The single had limited success in the US, peaking at number 39 in the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, it didn't chart at all. However, in The Netherlands, the single became Meat Loaf's biggest all time hit, reaching number one at the end of 1978. The single had flopped intitially, but its fortunes changed after the video clip was shown during half time of a televised soccer game. "Paradise" became a hit again in 1988 and is still a huge party favourite in The Netherlands. In various all time charts, such as the Radio 2 Top 2000 or Radio Veronica's All Time Top 1000, it consistently charts inside the top ten. The song was also used numerous times at high school dances.

Miscellaneous

* This has been one of the most requested karaoke songs for a male/female duo.
* This is one of the longest songs to ever be put uncut on one side of a 45 RPM record. The only minor difference is the song fades out almost immediately after the final line is sung.
*This song is currently used by AT&T in commercials for the Go-Phone, in which a father and mother (Meat Loaf and singer Tiffany) argue over buying the son a phone. The commercial uses altered lyrics.

References

Further reading

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