Meat Loaf – More Than You Deserve

About The Song

“More Than You Deserve” is a song written by Jim Steinman, recorded by Meat Loaf, and released in 1977 as part of his debut album Bat Out of Hell on Cleveland International/Epic Records. The song was initially written for the 1973 off-Broadway musical More Than You Deserve, where Meat Loaf and Karla DeVito performed it, marking an early collaboration between Meat Loaf and Steinman. It was not released as a single but gained attention as the album’s opening track, contributing to the theatrical narrative of Bat Out of Hell, which sold over 43 million copies worldwide.

The recording took place at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, and House of Music in West Orange, New Jersey, produced by Todd Rundgren with co-production by Steinman. The session featured a robust lineup, including Roy Bittan on piano, Max Weinberg on drums from the E Street Band, and Ellen Foley on backing vocals. The track includes a dramatic arrangement with a horn section and a choir, recorded over several days to capture its live-performance energy. Steinman noted in a 1977 interview, “This song was born on stage, and we wanted to keep that raw, live feel in the studio.” The song runs 6:58 on the album.

The lyrics depict a soldier’s plea to a lover, blending themes of war and unrequited love, with lines like “I’ve been carrying a torch for her / More than you deserve.” The song originated from the musical, where it was performed as a duet, but the album version features Meat Loaf’s solo vocals with backing harmonies. Bat Out of Hell, released on October 21, 1977, faced initial commercial struggles but gained traction after extensive touring, reaching No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart.

The song was performed live during the 1977-1978 Bat Out of Hell Tour, with a 14-piece band, and a live version appeared on Live at Wembley (1987). It was not accompanied by a dedicated music video, though footage from the tour was later included in the 1999 DVD Meat Loaf: The Video Collection. The track’s theatrical roots influenced its inclusion as the album opener, setting the tone for the operatic style of subsequent songs like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

The song was released in various formats as part of Bat Out of Hell reissues, with B-sides from other singles like “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth.” It was included on compilations such as Hits Out of Hell (1993) and The Collection (2004). The production involved multiple overdubs, with Meat Loaf recording vocals in segments due to the physical demands of the performance, a challenge noted during the album’s lengthy sessions.

Video

Lyric

I’ve been carrying a torch for her
More than you deserve
I’ve been holding on so long
More than you deserve

You took my love and threw it away
Left me standing in the rain
But I’ll keep loving you still
More than you deserve

The battles fought, the blood I shed
All for a love you never gave
I gave my heart, my soul, my all
More than you deserve

I stood by you through every fight
Through every dark and lonely night
But you turned your back on me
More than you deserve

The nights are cold, the days are long
I sing this lonely soldier’s song
My love for you will never fade
More than you deserve

I’ve carried this torch through fire and flame
Called out your name again and again
But you left me here to burn
More than you deserve

The war is over, the fight is done
But my heart still beats for only one
I’ll love you still, though you’re gone
More than you deserve