In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
You say you love me
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
Whoa, how I could love you
If I could let you stay
It's late, and I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late, ooh, 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
Mm, yeah
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, yes
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, mm, 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, save our love you can't turn out the light
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
Mm, 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've gotta know what this life's all about, ooh
Tell me
Tryin' to work it out, yeah, ooh
Ooh too late
Yeah, too late
Much too late, ah
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 right?
It's late, ooh, but it's time to set me free
It's late, ooh, 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, 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 late
Oh, It's all too late
Whoa, whoa, come on
Ooh mm, late, too late, oh yeah
Ah
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
Whoa, how I could love you
If I could let you stay
It's late, and I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late, ooh, 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
Mm, yeah
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, yes
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, mm, 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, save our love you can't turn out the light
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
Mm, 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've gotta know what this life's all about, ooh
Tell me
Tryin' to work it out, yeah, ooh
Ooh too late
Yeah, too late
Much too late, ah
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 right?
It's late, ooh, but it's time to set me free
It's late, ooh, 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, 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 late
Oh, It's all too late
Whoa, whoa, come on
Ooh mm, late, too late, oh yeah
Ah
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
: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...<br /> You, my friend, earn the cookie.<br /> 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!<br /> Clever stuff by May.
@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
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.
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.<br /> <br />
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!