The Clarks – Born Too Late

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Vincent will you teach me how to paint
Teresa will I ever be a saint
John I really think your songs are great
I was born too late

William will you teach me how to write
Cassius will you show me how to fight
Thomas A. I think I see the light
I was born tonight

I’ve had a hard time a leaving this town
I’ve been losing everything that I’ve found
I’m gonna search the sky, kiss the ground
Build it up, and tear it back down

Jimmy show me how you play that thing
Elvis will I ever be a king
And Jerry all the joy and love you bring
I was born to sing

Martin Luther king show me the way
Jesus Buddha teach me how to pray
Christopher I think I see the faith
I was born today

I’ve had a hard time leaving this town
I’ve been losing everything that I’ve found
I’m gonna search the sky, kiss the ground
Build it up, and tear it back down

I’ve had a hard time a leaving this place
I’ve been counting all the lines on my face
I’m gonna curse the sky, hit the ground
What goes up comes tumbling down
Tumbling down


Lyrics submitted by NYG216, edited by Optejac

Born Too Late song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentI love this...this is my life. I always wish I could have been around when the greats were but most of even the late geniuses have died before I realized they lived. I suck. Anyway, could distantly mean that you have a hard time going out and learning things, and that you just want them to come to u. I dunno. Well, if nothing else I started comments on the song.
    thinkitbeiton June 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think it's about how there's so much out there in the world but you can't get away from home..."I've had a hard time leaving this place/I've been counting all the lines on my face/I'm gonna curse the sky, hit the ground/what goes up comes tumbling down" is so powerful, time goes by and you never become, or arive, at your destiny...i'd say see also, pink floyd's "time"
    ZinbobDanon March 28, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentto specify wat i mean...

    i've had a hard time leaving this town
    i've been losing everything that i've found
    i'm gonna kiss the sky, kiss the ground
    build it up, and tear it back down
    (i haven't gotten out yet but someday i will and i'm gonna conquer the world)

    i've had a hard time leaving this place
    i've been counting all the lines on my face
    i'm gonna curse the sky, hit the ground
    what goes up comes tumbling down
    (i still haven't achieved wat i wanted to and the older i get the more it seems i never will...also, i think there's a bit of bitterness in the second version of the chorus)
    ZinbobDanon March 31, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is a great song...one of my favorites. I think it means that when you're having a downward turn in your life, you can look to the greats of the past for inspiration. This song lists a lot of them, and below are my ideas about who they are. Of course, there could be other interpretations on a few of them.

    Verse One
    Vincent Van Gogh, Mother Theresa, and John Lennon.

    Verse Two
    William Shakespeare (or William Faulkner), Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali (or Cassius the Roman), and Thomas Aquinas (that lyric above should be Thomas A. I think I see the light).

    Verse Three

    Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia

    Verse Four

    The first three are self-explanatory, and Christopher Columbus (line should be Christopher I think I see the bay)

    Good song!
    enjoyale81on July 22, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti never heard thomas aquinas before...i thought it was thomas edison
    ZinbobDanon May 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYeah Thomas A. = Thomas Alva Edison.
    ChaseKendereson June 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentDefinitely Thomas Edison since he's associated with the invention of the light bulb. But my friends and I have wondered about that Jerry. I did think it was Garcia but wasn't sure.

    Also, the lyrics should read, "Christopher, I think I see the bay" from what I've read.
    eytanmirskyon October 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti always thought jerry lee lewis...and, yes, it is bay
    ZinbobDanon March 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    My OpinionThis was what introduced me to this band, and it's still a favorite of mine. I will shortly catch up on collecting all of their stuff. Vastly underrated! Fantastic band!
    HELENzon December 10, 2010   Link

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