Paradise By The Dashboard Light

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman and first recorded by Meat Loaf for his 1977 album Bat Out of Hell. It is a duet between Meat Loaf and singer Ellen Foley that chronicles a young couple as they debate whether or not to "go all the way tonight". The song is also notable for an extended sequence in which then-Yankees play-by-play announcer Phil Rizzuto ostensibly narrates a baseball game. This play-by-play serves as a metaphor for the young lovers going "around the bases". The track was recorded in 1976 under the guidance of producer Todd Rundgren.

[Part 1: Paradise (0:00 - 3:30)] [Verse 1: Meat Loaf] Well, I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday Parking by the lake and there was not another car in sight And I never had a girl looking any better than you did And all the kids at school, they were wishing they were me that night [Pre-Chorus: Meat Loaf] And now our bodies are oh so close and tight It never felt so good, it never felt so right And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife C'mon! Hold on tight! Well c'mon! Hold on tight! [Chorus: Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley] Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night I can see paradise by the dashboard light [Post-Chorus: Ellen Foley] Ain't no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed 'Cause we were barely seventeen and we were barely dressed Ain't no doubt about it, baby got to go and shout it Ain't no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed 'Cause we were barely seventeen and we were barely dressed [Verse 2: Meat Loaf] Baby don'tcha hear my heart? You 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 never gonna regret it So open up your eyes, I got a big surprise, it'll feel all right Well, I wanna make your motor run [Pre-Chorus: Meat Loaf] And now our bodies are oh so close and tight It never felt so good, it never felt so right And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife C'mon! Hold on tight! Well c'mon! Hold on tight! [Chorus: Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley] Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night I can see paradise by the dashboard light Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night Paradise by the dashboard light [Post-Chorus 2: Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley] You got to do what you can And let Mother Nature do the rest Ain't no doubt about it We were doubly blessed 'Cause we were barely seventeen And we were barely- [Bridge: Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley] We're gonna go all the way tonight We're gonna go all the way and tonight's the night We're gonna go all the way tonight We're gonna go all the way and tonight's the night We're gonna go all the way tonight We're gonna go all the way and tonight's the night We're gonna go all the way tonight We're gonna go all the way and tonight's the night [Part 2: Radio Broadcast (3:30 - 4:26)] [Instrumental Breakdown] [Spoken Interlude: Phil Rizzuto] OK, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth There's the windup, and there it is, a line shot up the middle Look at him go. This boy can really fly! He's rounding first and really turning it on now He's not letting up at all, he's gonna try for Second The ball is bobbled out in center, and here comes the throw And what a throw! He's gonna slide in head first Here he comes, he's out! No, wait, safe - safe at second base This kid really makes things happen out there Batter steps up to the plate, here's the pitch-he's going And what a jump he's got. He's trying for third, here's the throw It's in the dirt-safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base! He's taking a pretty big lead out there Almost daring him to try and pick him off The pitcher glances over, winds up, and it's bunted Bunted down the third base line, the suicide squeeze is on! 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! [Part 3: Let Me Sleep on It (4:27 - 6:56)] [Verse 3: Ellen Foley] Stop right there! I gotta know right now! Before we go any further! Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you never leave me? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? Will you take me away and will you make me your wife? Do you love me!? Will you love me forever!? Do you need me!? Will you never leave me!? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!? Will you take me away and will you make me your wife!? I gotta know right now Before we go any further Do you love me!? Will you love me forever!? [Verse 4: Meat Loaf] Let me sleep on it Baby, baby let me sleep on it Let me sleep on it I'll give you an answer in the morning Let me sleep on it Baby, baby let me sleep on it Let me sleep on it I'll give you an answer in the morning Let me sleep on it Baby, baby let me sleep on it Let me sleep on it I'll give you an answer in the morning [Verse 5: Ellen Foley] I gotta know right now Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you never leave me? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? Will you take me away and will you make me your wife? I gotta know right now! Before we go any further Do you love me? (Let me sleep on it) Will you love me forever? [Breakdown: Ellen Foley] What's it gonna be boy? Come on, I can wait all night What's it gonna be boy? Yes or no? What's it gonna be boy? Yes or no? [Verse 6: Meat Loaf & (Ellen Foley)] Let me sleep on it Baby, baby let me sleep on it Well, let me sleep on it I'll give you an answer in the morning (I gotta know right now!) Let me sleep on it (Do you love me? Will you love me forever?) Baby, baby let me sleep on it (Do you need me? Will you never leave me?) Well, let me sleep on it (Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?) I'll give you an answer in the morning, morning, I'll tell you in the morning (Will you take me away and will you make me your wife? I gotta know right now Before we go any further Do you love me!? Will you love me forever!?) [Call & Response: Meat Loaf & (Ellen Foley)] Let me sleep on it (Will you love me forever?) Let me sleep on it (Will you love me forever?) [Part 4: Praying for the End of Time (6:57 - 8:28)] [Verse 7: Meat Loaf] I couldn't take it any longer Lord I was crazed And 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 to the end of time I swore that I would love you to the end of time! [Verse 8: Meat Loaf] So now I'm praying for the end of time To hurry up and arrive 'Cause if I gotta 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! [Outro: Meat Loaf & (Ellen Foley)] Well, it was long ago and it was far away (it never felt so good) And it was so much better that it is today Well, it was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good) And it was so much better that it is today (It never felt so right) It was long ago and it was far away (And we were glowing like) And it was so much better that it is today (A metal on the edge of a knife) It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good) And it was so much better that it is today (It never felt so right) It was long ago and it was far away (And we were glowing like) And it was so much better that it is today (A metal on the edge of a knife) It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good) And it was so much better that it is today (It never felt so right) It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so right) And it was so much better that it is today