Wrapped up in a short black coat worn thin
A hand around her match to block the wind.
She smiled as the smoke escaped her lips
Then let her hand fall gently away from this.

Cause it's late now, and I'm tired of all these games
And the cold night stings my skin.
I won't say it now, but I get closer everyday to letting this world win

And the city chokes on everything it makes
But the sunrise heals every heart it breaks.
And not unlike the birds, we all sing songs
To celebrate, to mourn, or just hang on

Cause it's late now, and the day has not been kind
So I came here to forget
It's a hard town, but I hold my head up high
Like a death row cigarette

Cant this all wait 'til the morning
I can't think straight right now
Seems like we're better off without these clenched fists
All boxing us in, I want out, I want out

Like Christmas lights left up 'till mid-July
We kept alive something that should have died
And everyday another light burns out
'till on this street we are the darkest house

Cause it's late now, and everybody's left
And I think I might too
Like my mother said, you always leave with who you bring
And I came here with you


Lyrics submitted by Ryder556, edited by TheDude97

It's Late song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    Bitter sweet lyrics.

    I'm pretty sure this song is about a relationship that has died; the passion and love gone. I've been in this situation before, usually before the end of a relationship there's a lot of arguing and fighting, and you may even come to resent your partner in that relationship.

    There's some references to cigarettes in this song, which I think is symbolic for something that might feel good, but is bad for you at the same time, and can't last (With cigarettes, you get a nicotine fix, but it's toxic to your health, and the cigarettes always burn up and run out).

    The lines, "Can't this wait til' the morning, I can't think straight now. Seems like we're better off without these clenched fists" symbolises how one of the partners are tired of fighting, and has given up so to speak. "I want out, I want out" is a pretty clear indication of my point.

    The next verse further more supports my interpretation, it should be obvious why. "Like Christmas lights left up till' mid-July, We kept alive something that should have died."

    The last verse is about the person leaving the relationship, leaving his/her significant other, that's how I see it anyway.

    TheDude97on January 02, 2015   Link

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

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Holiday
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.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
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.