And I hardly know your name
And if I say I love you in the candle light
There's no one but myself to blame
But there's something inside
That's turning my mind away
Oh how I could love you
If I could let you stay
It's late - and I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late - is it just my sickly pride?
Too late - even now the feeling seems to slip away
So late - though I'm crying I can't help but hear you say
It's late It's late It's late
But not too late
Is the sweetest love around
But after all this time
The more I'm trying
The more I seem to let you down
Now you tell me you're leaving
And I just can't believe it's true
Oh you know that I can love you
Though you know I can't be true
With suspision in your eye
You say what game you're playing
What's this that you're saying
I know that I can give no reply
If I take you tonight
Is it making my life a lie?
Oh you make me wonder
Did I live my life allright
It's late - But there is no way it has to be
Too late - so let the fire take our bodies this night
So late - so let the water take our guilt in the tide
It's late It's late It's late
It's late It's late
It's all too late
:sigh: This is, along with Liar and The March of the Black Queen, one of My favorite Queen Songs. I always find it alarming, amusing, and astonishing, the way peopled minds work when they interpret lyrics. Here's my two cents. I think that this song is about unrequited love. The narrator is telling the story of his/her own personal dilemma concerning a relationship. C'mon now folks...we've all been in this kinda situation. Someone love you, blindly,and,in this case foolishly and in vain..and you know in your heart it's not going to work...for whatever reason. Lack of chemistry, no real heartfelt emotion on your part..yet...you stay in the relationship. Because,in a nut shell, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know i.e. being alone. So you stay for the sex,or the companionship, or the convenience. But always, nagging at the back of your mind,you know it's wrong for you, wrong for your partner and in the end pain is on the way. I think the last few verses where the narrator refers to both fire,and water may be symbolic representations of both the fire of anger when you finally get the guts to tell him/her it's over and the water, the tears that may flow from one or both parties involved. But, alas, in the end it doesn't really matter because it is,truly, all too late.
How is this not one of their greatest hits? It's brilliant.
There is a part to this song that I already see that is missing and I hope that whoever does these lyrics here edits, for this song especially should be reconised:
"It's Late- ...and it's driving me so mad It's Late - Yes I know, but don't try to tell me that... It's too Late-say I love you can turn out the light... It's too Late- I've been wrong,but I'll too be right"
This would be one of those unexplained songs by Queen that would have no relevance to the usual meaning to they're basic musical structure,but none to less serves to a point that should be revered.
It is basically about a kind of realationship that was never really for the best intentions and at most, was under all the false pretenses ever so possible! What makes matters even worse is the fact the narrater of this song knew it, but not until he or she came to that conclusion right up to the very last moment and all the realization actually set into the person's mind! Unfortunatally not only did that person had to face those facts, but had that dirty task to bring it to the counterpart's acknowledgment. Which would suck all the way around!
@ozonefiller - I know this is somewhat late - no pun intended - but... You, my friend, earn the cookie. This song is about a manipulative, conniving lover who mercilessly toys with the affections of another, doing just enough to string them along (while shamelessly blaming THEM for it) til they blow up the relationship after getting caught cheating (for the whateverenth time?). And what a *** diva! The last two lines of the final act, pure unadulterated GAS! Clever stuff by May.
@ozonefiller - I know this is somewhat late - no pun intended - but... You, my friend, earn the cookie. This song is about a manipulative, conniving lover who mercilessly toys with the affections of another, doing just enough to string them along (while shamelessly blaming THEM for it) til they blow up the relationship after getting caught cheating (for the whateverenth time?). And what a *** diva! The last two lines of the final act, pure unadulterated GAS! Clever stuff by May.
@ozonefiller Sorry to nitpick but I believe it is "save our love" not "say our love".
@ozonefiller Sorry to nitpick but I believe it is "save our love" not "say our love".
Here's the full lyrics to this song that I got off another website and is most accurate:
It's Late Words and music by Brian May
You say you love me And I hardly know your name And if I say I love you in the candlelight There's no one but myself to blame But there's something inside That's turning my mind away Oh how I could love you If I could let you stay
It's late - but I'm bleeding deep inside It's late - is it just my sickly pride? Too late - even now the feeling seems to steal away So late - though I'm crying I can't help but hear you say It's late it's late it's late But not too late
The way you love me Is the sweetest love around But after all this time The more I'm trying The more I seem to let you down Now you tell me you're leaving And I just can't believe it's true Oh you know that I can love you Though I know I can't be true Oh you made me love you Don't tell me that we're through
It's late - but it's driving me so mad It's late - yes I know but don't try to tell me that it's Too late - save our love you can't turn out the lights So late - I've been wrong but I'll learn to be right It's late it's late it's late But not too late
- I've been so long
- You've been so long
- We've been so long tryin' to work it out
- I ain't got long
- You ain't got long
- We gotta know what this life is all about
Too late much too late You're staring at me With suspicion in your eye You say what game are you playing? What's this that you're saying? I know that I can't reply If I take you tonight Is it making my life a lie? Oh you make me wonder Did I live my life alright?
It's late - but it's time to set me free It's late - yes I know but there's no way it has to be Too late - so let the fire take our bodies this night So late - so let the waters take our guilt in the tide It's late it's late it's late it's late It's late it's late It's all too late
pure rock soap opera.
guilt pangs about having another one night stand. or a lifetime of them...
@lisandom Brian was habitual cheater (and the worst kind because it wasn't casual one night stands but full out second relationships and obsessions) and I think this song gives a perspective on the cheater, which is flipped from the usual perspective of the lover cheated on.
@lisandom Brian was habitual cheater (and the worst kind because it wasn't casual one night stands but full out second relationships and obsessions) and I think this song gives a perspective on the cheater, which is flipped from the usual perspective of the lover cheated on.
Another option could be, a man still loves a woman but he knows she doesn't even really want to know him any more (even forgets his name). He has to lose his pride and tell her to go (If you love somebody you have to let them go, as it is too late to save it). They have sex (guilt free) one last time and she will leave in the morning, never to be heard from again.
Back in early high school my favourite band was Queen. My mate's favourite band was Pink Floyd.
And we would spend sleep over's trying to educate the other ignorant one why my 1 great band is better than your 1 great band.
Now, even at that nascent age i was somewhat concerned about Queens sometimes flippant use of word or genre, as oppossed to the almost always weighty floyd.
Hence my mate almost in exasperation asks when this was playing "ok what does it's late but not too late mean?!"
I was amazed that this was one of 2 songs he ever questioned the songmeanings of. Not seaside reandevouz, not the fairyfeller's masterstroke? It's about a relationship, a failing relationship, her saying it's too late, him saying not yet. It was literal and figurative at the same time, ie same night, go away, it's late, him it's not too late, let me stay.
(the other queen song he questioned/incriminated was 39. When did the second world war start i retorted? that shut him up.
little did i know it was about a time travelling space man)
Fantastic song. I think it's about not truely loving someone you have the opportunity to spend your life with. You're confused and don't know whether to take your chance or leave, but is it to late?
One of Queen's best IMOP......They know it's just about sex and nothing else but it's TOO LATE .
Brian May is very underrated, no?
Absolutely in the past anyway . I have nothing but admiration for the man.
Absolutely in the past anyway . I have nothing but admiration for the man.
One of my favorites off of this album. I can truly say that I never heard a Queen song I didn't like with the possible exception of "Another One Bites The Dust". It seemed to be created to entice American fans with too little taste to already like Queen. Just my opinion. But "Its Late" just rocks!