Below are just two of Steinman's best songs. Celine Dion performs "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" and Meatloaf performs "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights".

I think Jim Steinman is one of the most incredible songwriters of all time. His compositions were extremely complex and shifted tempo as the "story" of the song was being "told". I always stopped what I was doing when I heard something he composed playing on the radio.

In fact, when Celine Dion first sang "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", I was exercising in a YMCA and heard the song for the first time over the facility speakers, and I recognized the unique style of the music and I stopped what I was doing just to listen to this song. That was the first time I had heard it, and I was mezmerized.

It's All Coming Back to Me Now (performed by Celine Dion)

 
Lyrics

There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed if just listened to it
Right outside the window
There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust, and I just knew my eyes were drying up
Forever (forever)
I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

But when you touch me like this, and you hold me like that
I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this, and I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe, but it's all coming back to me

It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now
There were moments of gold, and there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again, but then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure, it was more than any laws allow
Baby, baby

If I kiss you like this, and if you whisper like that
It was lost long ago, but it's all coming back to me
If you want me like this, and if you need me like that
It was dead long ago, but it's all coming back to me
It's so hard to resist, and it's all coming back to me
I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now

But it's all coming back

There were those empty threats and hollow lies
And whenever you tried to hurt me, I just hurt you even worse
And so much deeper
There were hours that just went on for days
When alone at last, we'd count up all the chances that were lost to us
Forever (forever)
But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then

But if I touch you like this, and if you kiss me like that
It was so long ago, but it's all coming back to me
If you touch me like this, and if I kiss you like that
It was gone with the wind, but it's all coming back to me

It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now
There were moments of gold, and there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again, but then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure, it was more than all your laws allow
Baby, baby, baby

When you touch me like this, and when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind, but it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this, and when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see, all coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies, all coming back to me
I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now

If you forgive me all this, if I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget, and it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this, and when I see you like that
We see just what we want to see, all coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies, all coming back to me
I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now

(It's all coming back to me now)
And when you kiss me like this (it's all coming back to me now)
And when I touch you like that (it's all coming back to me now)
And if you do it like this (it's all coming back to me now)
And if we

Paradise by the Dashboard Lights (performed by Meatloaf)

Lyrics

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

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!
C'mon! Hold on tight!

Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light

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

Baby don't you 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
Well I gotta let you know
No, you're 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

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!

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
(Lonely in the deep dark night)
Paradise by the dashboard light

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-

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

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 and 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!

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 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?

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

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?
And will you love me forever?

What's it going to be boy?
C'mon I can wait all night
What's it gonna be boy? Yes or no?
What's it gonna be boy?
Yes or no?

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!

Do you love me? (let me sleep on it)
Will you love me forever? (Baby baby, let me sleep on it) do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? (Let me sleep on it)
Will you take me away, will you make me your wife? (I'll give you an answer in the morning)
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me? Will you love me forever?

Let me sleep on it! (will you love me forever?)
Let me sleep on it! (will you love me forever?)

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 I would love you to the end of time!

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!

Well it was long ago and it was far away
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, and it was glowing like the metal)
It was long ago and it was far away (on the edge of a knife, it never felt so good)
And it was so much better that it is today (it never felt so right, and it was glowing like the metal)
Well it was long ago and it was far away (on the edge of a knife, it never felt so good)
And it was so much better that it is today (it never felt so right, and it was glowing like the metal)
Well it was long ago and it was far away (on the edge of a knife, it never felt so good)
And it was so much better that it is today (it never felt so right, and it was glowing like the metal)
Well it was long ago and it was far away (on the edge of a knife, it never felt so good)
And it was so much better that it is today (it never felt so right, and it was glowing like the metal)
It was long ago and it was far away (on the edge of a knife, it never felt so good)
And it was so much better that it is today (it never felt so right, and it was glowing like the metal)