Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

Album: Bat Out Of Hell (1977)
Charted: 32 11
Play Video
  • Baby, we can talk all night
    But that ain't gettin us nowhere
    I told you everything I possibly can
    There's nothing left inside of here

    And maybe you can cry all night
    But that'll never change the way that I feel
    The snow is really piling up outside
    I wish you wouldn't make me leave here

    I poured it on and I poured it out
    I tried to show you just how much I care
    I'm tired of words and I'm too hoarse to shout
    But you've been cold to me so long
    I'm crying icicles instead of tears

    And all I can do is keep on telling you
    I want you (I want you)
    I need you (I need you)
    There ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
    Now don't be sad (don't be sad 'cause)
    'Cause two out of three ain't bad
    Now don't be sad ('cause)
    'Cause two out of three ain't bad

    You'll never find your gold on a sandy beach
    You'll never drill for oil on a city street
    I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
    But there ain't no Coup de Ville
    Hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box

    I can't lie (I can't lie)
    I can't tell you that I'm something I'm not
    No matter how I try
    I'll never be able to give you something
    Something that I just haven't got

    There's only one girl I'll ever love
    And that was so many years ago
    And though I know I'll never get her out of my heart
    She never loved me back
    Ooh I know

    Well I remember how she left me on a stormy night
    Oh she kissed me and got out of our bed
    And though I pleaded and I begged her not to walk out that door
    She packed her bags and turned right away

    And she kept on telling me
    She kept on telling me
    She kept on telling me

    I want you (I want you)
    I need you (I need you)
    There ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
    Now don't be sad (don't be sad 'cause)
    'Cause two out of three ain't bad

    I want you (I want you)
    I need you (I need you)
    There ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
    Now don't be sad (don't be sad 'cause)
    'Cause two out of three ain't bad
    Now don't be sad
    'Cause two out of three ain't bad

    Baby, we can talk all night
    But that ain't getting us nowhere Writer/s: Jim Steinman
    Publisher: Round Hill
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Mariposa74This lyrics run deep; I can relate to the deepest level.
    I feel as if these lyrics of him not being able to love her , was directed to the same woman who walked out on him; some how she came back and he's explains to her he will never be able to love her again other than to want her mad need her . For he loved her once she broke him so to the point he will never be able to lover her .
  • Thomas Macinnes from East Of The Great DivideWhen was this written by mr. Steinman?
  • Slacker from SofaI want to argue that its the same girl he sings about.
    And is he really being thrown to the curve, were do you read that?

    He cant love her. His tears turned into icicles. She treated him cold.
    He still needs her, and want her. but his heart turned cold.
    He used to love some time ago, but was told 2 out of 3 aint bad.
    Its the same girl. She came back.

    Something similar is done in "I would do anything for love but I wont do that".
    Its hinted what he's refering to in the song If you listen.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenSteinman was such a great writer/arranger/performer that he created songs I loved for two artists that I had previously depised: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" for Bonnie Tyler and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" for Air Supply.
  • Will from Claremont CaliforniaThis song has some of the greatest song writing of all time...

    You'll never find your gold on a sandy beach
    You'll never drill for oil on a city street
    I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
    But there ain't no Coup de Ville hiding at the bottom
    Of a Cracker Jack box
  • Shawn from Green Bay WiJim Steinman is arguably the greatest songwriter of all time. LOVE his lyrics! Thanks to him, Meatloaf has a bunch of lyrically fantastic songs.
  • Tc from UkNeed you = 1
    Want you = 1
    Love You = 0
    2/3 'aint bad! Take it!
    Great song by the genius that is Jim Steinman.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.