About The Song
“I’m Gonna Love Her for Both of Us” is a song written by Jim Steinman, performed by Meat Loaf, and released on August 3, 1981, as the second single from his second studio album Dead Ringer on Epic Records. The song reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, marking a moderate hit compared to the album’s lead single, “Dead Ringer for Love.” It was part of the promotional push for Dead Ringer, which hit No. 1 in the UK and achieved platinum status in multiple markets.
The recording took place at The Power Station in New York and other studios, produced by Meat Loaf and Stephan Galfas, with initial production by Jimmy Iovine and Steinman. The session featured a rich arrangement with Roy Bittan on piano, Max Weinberg on drums, both from the E Street Band, and Rory Dodd on backing vocals. The track includes a dramatic orchestral swell and a powerful vocal performance by Meat Loaf, recorded over multiple takes to capture its emotional intensity. Steinman aimed for a cinematic quality, as he noted in a 1981 interview, “This song was meant to feel like a grand love letter, with all the passion and pain laid bare.” The song runs 7:05 on the album, with the single edited to 3:58 for radio play.
The lyrics tell the story of a man vowing to love for two after a breakup, with lines like “I’m gonna love her for both of us / And tell her that it’s from the heart.” The narrative reflects a mix of longing and determination, a recurring theme in Steinman’s songwriting. The album Dead Ringer, released on September 4, 1981, was recorded with a budget of approximately $500,000, funded by RCA Records after initial rejections. The album’s production faced delays due to Meat Loaf’s vocal strain, but “I’m Gonna Love Her for Both of Us” emerged as a standout track.
The music video, directed by Tom Trbovich, premiered in 1981, featuring Meat Loaf in a moody, candlelit setting with imagery of a broken relationship. It supported the single’s release alongside “Dead Ringer for Love” and was later included on the 1999 DVD Meat Loaf: The Video Collection. The song was performed live during the 1981-1982 tour, with a 14-piece band, and a live version appeared on Live at Wembley (1987). It was also part of the setlist for the 1993 tour supporting Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell.
The track was released in multiple formats, including 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl, with B-sides like “More Than You Deserve” and “For Crying Out Loud.” It was included on compilations such as Hits Out of Hell (1993) and some Dead Ringer reissues. The song’s production involved extensive use of overdubs, with Meat Loaf recording his vocals in segments due to health issues at the time, including a vocal cord injury from overperforming.
Video
Lyric
I’m gonna love her for both of us
And tell her that it’s from the heart
I’m gonna love her the way I love her
And make her know it from the startShe’s been hurt so much in her life
She needs someone to hold her tight
And I’ll be there beside her
To love her day and nightI’m gonna love her for both of us
And show her that it’s real
I’m gonna love her with all my soul
And make her feel the way I feelShe’s been alone for so long now
She needs someone to care
And I’ll be there to give her
All the love that we can shareI’m gonna love her for both of us
And tell her that it’s true
I’m gonna love her with all my might
And make her dreams come trueShe’s been waiting for someone
To take her by the hand
And I’ll be there to lead her
To a love that’s so grandI’m gonna love her for both of us
And hold her close and tight
I’m gonna love her with all my heart
And love her day or nightI’m gonna love her for both of us
And never let her go
I’m gonna love her with all I’ve got
And let our love just grow