She likes Meat Loaf, but she can’t stand his singing. She can’t see what I see in his songs. I can’t see how anyone could listen to the raw emotion that burns like a torch in his performances and not get totally lost in the magic.

I guess we’re both blind as a bat.

And that’s the sort of thing that proves God has a sense of humor. The albums I would listen to over and over all day every day drive her nuts. Meat Loaf is my favorite by far, but the other stuff I love consists mostly of heavy metal’s beginnings.

You know, back when devil music was wholesome.

Ronnie James Dio (RIP, my man). Ozzy. Deep Purple.

And my southern rock brothers, like Molly Hatchet.

So the motorcycle and a few hundred miles of winding road become the perfect combination of music and self reflection every few weeks. With tunes like “Wasted Youth” and “I’m Still Alive” blasting through the helmet speakers as I roll the power on and climb hills as if launching for distant galaxies. Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills” adds thundering hooves to the roar of the engine and I imagine the battles between native Americans (my ancestors) and the invading Europeans (also my ancestors) as I journey through the roads that are hedged on either side with the same woodlands those ancients passed as they hunted, fought, lived, and died.

One can easily get swept away if Pandora presents “Bat Out of Hell” at the wrong time. Like: just as you’re sweeping into a long spiral curve on the razor-edged ridge of an Ozark peak. The lyrics:

…And I never see the sudden curve ’til it’s way too late
then I’m dying at the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun
torn and twisted at the foot of a burning bike…

just taunt you to push it to the very edge and see how close to dying of idiocy you can come. But it passes, and as you ease back into the straightaway “Heaven Can Wait” gently returns you to sanity.

I like to imagine living out my music. Like a good novel, it helps take me away. It becomes the sea that the motorcycle sails on, and I alone pilot it far from the shores of noisy, bustling cities.

I’m not afraid to show you who I am
And I am not ashamed of my life
Though I’ve walked alone down this cold and soulless road
I’ve always felt your heat in my bones

With every step I rise and fall
With everything to gain I end up losing it all
When the darkness gets in
I scream out and your light sets me free

I’m not afraid of the past no more
I’m not afraid and I’m bad for good
I used to dance to the devil’s beat
If I could bust into hell I would

I’m not afraid to shed all my skin
I’m not afraid of the faults you see
I’m tearing down these walls right now
They’re comin’ down ’cause I believe

Your love is blind, blind as a bat
The way that you’re leading me home like that
Your love is blind, blind as bat

I’m not afraid when they kick me down
I’m not afraid when I start to bleed
I’m not afraid if I live or die
I’m not afraid ’cause I believe

Your love is blind, blind as a bat
The way that you’re leading me home like that
Your love is blind, blind as bat

And I wish that I could give you something in return
For the precious time you wasted on the tears I’ve never earned
For reaching out to help me ‘cross the bridges that I burned

And in the end you’ll finally see
That, baby, I’ve done everything I possibly can
I do it again ’cause know you’re everything that I need

I’m not afraid of the the truth no more
I’m not afraid of the lies I hid
I’m not afraid of the past of my sins
‘Cause I paid for the wrongs I did

I’m not afraid of the things you know
I’m just a book for the world to read
My final words on the final page
Will be amends ’cause I believe

Your love is blind, blind as a bat
The way that you’re leading me home like that
Your love is blind, blind as bat

Your heart is kind, mine’s painted black
The way you forgive me and just take me back
Your love is blind, blind as bat

Your love is blind, blind as a bat
The way that you’re leading me home like that
Your love is blind, blind as bat

Your heart is kind, mine’s painted black
The way you forgive me and just take me back
Your love is blind, blind as bat…

- Music and Lyrics by Desmond Child and James Michael, sung by Meat Loaf