It's Too Late

Album: Tapestry (1971)
Charted: 6 1
Play Video
  • Stayed in bed all mornin' just to pass the time
    There's somethin' wrong here, there can be no denyin'
    One of us is changin', or maybe we've just stopped tryin'

    And it's too late, baby, now it's too late
    Though we really did try to make it
    Somethin' inside has died
    And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
    Oh, no, no, no, no, no
    (No, no, no, no)

    It used to be so easy, livin' here with you
    You were light and breezy, and I knew just what to do
    Now you look so unhappy and I feel like a fool

    And it's too late, baby, now it's too late
    Though we really did try to make it
    Somethin' inside has died
    And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
    Oh, no, no

    There'll be good times again for me and you
    But we just can't stay together, don't you feel it, too?
    Still I'm glad for what we had and how I once loved you

    But it's too late, baby, now it's too late
    Though we really did try to make it
    Somethin' inside has died
    And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
    Oh, no, no, no, no, no

    It's too late, baby
    It's too late now, darling
    It's too late Writer/s: Carole King, Toni Stern
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 18

  • Gh from DenverKing's version of "I Feel the Earth Move" peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated June 19, 1971. It remained there for five consecutive weeks.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThere's an early version of this song on King's album "The Legendary Demos" that has her harmonizing along with the piano bridges and a very different vocal fade out from her. I like it even more than the official version.
  • Kawa from Tokyo, JapanHi The Music lovers,

    I think that the idea of the lyrics of the song came from the song 'Hello It's Me' written and recorded in 1968 by Todd Rundgren's band 'Nazz'.
    But it was not a hit. So Todd recorded again in 1972 as a solo artist and released and became a big hit. That means Noone seemed to know
    about the song until 1972. I think Carole knew about the song before 1972. Because there is a story in common on both songs and it goes like this. 'There is something wrong here between us'. The story is impressive and I think you can't miss! The traces remain, too!
  • David from Sydney, AustraliaThe first two chords in this song are just great, they set up this classic song.
  • Christy from Santa Barbara, CaI was about 6 years old when "It's Too Late" came out. The lyrics were very upsetting to me because I thought the song was about a miscarriage! My mom was pregnant at the time, and she had explained to me that sometimes babies die in their mommy's tummies (she wanted me to be prepared just in case). I just pictured a mommy staying in bed because she was sick and didn't want the baby to go away... yep, I was a weird kid---took things way too literally!! I would cry every time I heard the song and I finally told my mom "I don't want my little brother/sister to die!!"
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxAmy Grant covered this song on the 'Tapestry Revisited" album in 1995. A few years later, it became autobiographical for her.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThis was the song that put Carole King on the map as a singer-songwriter after co-writing many hits for other artists with her ex-husband Gerry Goffin. It turned out to be a classic that I never get tired of hearing. I also enjoy Gloria Estefan's version a lot. One night when my girlfriend and I were driving to her place from a softball game, we heard Estefan's rendition on one of the satellite stations and then when I was driving home, the 70s station played King's big hit.
  • Dane from Lima,ohio, Fl"Still I'm glad for what we had,& how I once loved you"That does it for me every time.Very adult,very sad.Great piano too.My favorite song by her.
  • Butch from Strongsville, OhIf I was to list all the "one of the best songs of all time" referenced in these comments on this site and others, the list would be endless. "Best", like maybe No. 2,359,533? I myself would rank this one at No. 4,793. If that can be construed as "one of the best", so be it.
  • Paul from Washington Dc, DcI remember when I bought "Tapestry" with my allowance money back in '71. Driving home from the shopping mall, my mom semi-jokingly asked me, "What did you waste your hard-earned money on this time?" so I handed it to her, she looked at it for a moment and went "Hmm--well..." and handed it back to me. "Just don't blast the roof right off of the house with it", she said. Indeed.
    Anyway, "It's Too Late" is without a doubt the finest "breakup" song ever written. The influence of Billie Holiday is quite evident here. It's amazing how many beautiful songs have been written which have their genesis in such profound sorrow.
  • German from Costa Mesa, CaNo way... ain't nothin' like the real thang baby! Nothin' tops Carole's version in my humble opinion. The chords that end the song on piano are as soothing and tragical as it can get.
  • Jane from Austin, Txi prefer Gloria Estefan's version too.
  • Musicmama from New York, NyNow we come to #9 on my all-time list. It's one of the best-written songs I've heard: every verse resonates. And the understated arrangements only underscore the power of this song--and Carole King singing it.
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaYES! One of the best songs of all time! Carole King's consistent brilliance over so many years really peaked with this one! The poignance of an ending love affair is captured here better than anywhere words in any medium I've ever seen. It's because music can uniquely capture our emotions so much better than other media. And Carole proves it here! Also, it's from one of the top rock albums of all time. Tapestry is right up there with Who's Next and Sgt. Pepper.
  • Joe from Monroe, NyOne of the best songs of all time. Carole King & Toni Stern captured the spirit of the early 70's and combined it with a Santana-ish sax riff AND a 60's girl group chorus........absolutely brilliant work !
  • Joycemorrison from Phi actually like this more than "You've Got A Friend". although lyric wise, the latter is more "universal". but the wistfulness and sentiment and emotional regret of "It's Too Late" really cuts me up.
  • Silverado from Green Bay, WiCarole King is on of the most successfull female songwriters of the rock era. Wrote several hits with he husband of 10 years Gerry Goffin in the early 60's.
  • Jameson from Lexington, KyBeautiful song, no matter who sings it -- while I love Carole singing it, I think I prefer Gloria Estefan's version just a little better, though they're almost identical.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.