Written and produced by Jim Steinman, the track was released as the lead single from Tyler's sixth studio album, Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire (1986), in November 1985.

The single artwork featured paintings by the British artist Edward Burne-Jones.

Todd Rundgren was unable to appear in the video, and Bonnie Tyler was frustrated that most directors wanted him to feature as a silhouette.

Rundren's lines were subsequently mimed by Welsh actor Hywel Bennett.

[3] The song was re-recorded by Meat Loaf on his 2016 album Braver Than We Are, as a duet with Stacy Michelle, under the slightly modified title of "Loving You Is a Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It)".