About The Song
“Dead Ringer for Love” is a rock song written by Jim Steinman, performed by Meat Loaf with Cher, and released in November 1981 as the lead single from Meat Loaf’s second studio album Dead Ringer on Epic Records. The song debuted at No. 63 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at No. 5 in early February 1982, staying on the chart for 19 weeks. It was originally crafted by Steinman, Tony Hendra, and Sean Kelly as the theme for the short-lived TV comedy series Delta House, sung by Michael Simmons, before being reworked for the album. Portions of its lyrics later appeared in Steinman’s “Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young.”
The recording occurred at The Power Station in New York and other studios, produced by Meat Loaf and Stephan Galfas, with basic tracks produced by Jimmy Iovine and Steinman. The session featured a robust lineup, including Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg from the E Street Band, Rory Dodd and Ted Neeley on backing vocals, and Cher as a featured vocalist. The track includes horn arrangements by Tom Malone and string arrangements by Alden Shuman and Roy Straigis, creating a layered, theatrical sound. Steinman noted in a 1981 interview, “It was meant to be a high-energy duet, blending rock with a cinematic feel.” The song replaced another track late in production, shaping the album’s final structure.
The lyrics tell a playful yet intense story of two characters drawn together, with Meat Loaf singing about needing more than “rock ‘n’ roll and brew” and Cher responding with her own bold lines. The song runs 6:22 on the album, though the single was edited to 5:17. Dead Ringer, released on September 4, 1981, reached No. 1 in the UK, though it faced challenges due to its release coinciding with Black Friday, a period of industry layoffs. The album included other singles like “I’m Gonna Love Her for Both of Us” and “Read ‘Em and Weep.”
The music video, directed by Tom Trbovich, featured Meat Loaf and Cher in a dramatic, barroom setting, released in 1981 to promote the single. Despite its commercial success in the UK, it saw limited chart action in the U.S. The song has been performed live by Meat Loaf multiple times, with versions on Live Around the World (1995) and Bat out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (2004), where Cher’s part was sung by Patti Russo. There is no record of Cher and Meat Loaf performing it live together.
The track was part of the 1981-1982 tour, marking the start of Meat Loaf’s collaboration with pianist Paul Jacobs. It also appeared on compilations like Hits Out of Hell and some Bat Out of Hell re-releases, as well as Cher’s Greatest Hits: 1965–1992. The song was showcased on The Midnight Special in 1982, highlighting its live potential with a 14-piece band.
Video
Lyric
[Verse 1: Meat Loaf]
Every night I grab some money and I go down to the bar
I got my buddies and a beer, I got a dream, I need a car
You got me begging on my knees, c’mon and throw the dog a bone
A man he doesn’t live by rock ‘n roll and brew alone[Pre-Chorus: Meat Loaf]
Baby, baby
Rock ‘n roll and brew, rock ‘n roll and brew
They don’t mean a thing when I compare ’em next to you
Rock ‘n roll and brew, rock ‘n roll and brew
I know that you and I, oh, we got better things to do[Chorus: Meat Loaf]
I don’t know who you are or what you do, or where you go when you’re not around
I don’t know anything about you baby, but you’re everything I’m dreaming of
I don’t know who you are, but you’re a real dead ringer for love
A real dead ringer for love[Verse 2: Cher]
Ever since I can remember, you been hanging ’round this joint
You been trying to look away, but now you finally got the point
I don’t have to know your name and I won’t tell you what to do
But a girl, she doesn’t live by only rock ‘n roll and brew[Pre-Chorus: Cher & Meat Loaf]
Baby, baby
Rock ‘n roll and brew, rock ‘n roll and brew
They don’t mean a thing when I compare ’em next to you
Rock ‘n roll and brew, rock ‘n roll and brew
I know that you and I, oh, we got better things to do[Chorus: Meat Loaf & Cher]
I don’t know who you are or what you do, or where you go when you’re not around
I don’t know anything about you baby, but you’re everything I’m dreaming of
I don’t know who you are, but you’re a real dead ringer for love
A real dead ringer for love[Bridge: Meat Loaf & Cher]
You got the kind of legs that do more than walk
I don’t have to listen to your whimpering talk
Listen, you got the kind of eyes that do more than see
You got a lotta nerve to come on to me
You got the kind of lips that do more than drink
You got the kind of mind that does less than think
But since I’m feeling kinda lonely and my defenses are low
Why don’t you give it a shot and get it ready to go[Verse 3: Cher & Meat Loaf]
I’m looking for anonymous and fleeting satisfaction
I want to tell my daddy I’ll be missing in action
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been hanging ’round this joint
My daddy never noticed, now he’ll finally get the point[Chorus: Meat Loaf & Cher]
You got me begging on my knees, c’mon and throw the dog a bone
A man he doesn’t live by rock ‘n roll and brew alone
I don’t know who you are or what you do, or where you go when you’re not around
I don’t know anything about you baby, but you’re everything I’m dreaming of
I don’t know who you are, but you’re a real dead ringer for love
A real dead ringer for love[Outro: Meat Loaf & Cher]
Dead ringer for love
Dead ringer for love (Dead ringer)
Dead ringer for love (Dead ringer)
[Repeats]