Monday morning: Hesitate, I can't get out of bed I'd rather go back to the dreams I'm living in my head Tuesday evening: Pack my bags, I'm heading out the door I left a box of memories lying on the floor Ride on, ride till early morning sun Ride on, like the dawning of the day It's too late, to let all your feelings show Go on, til the night is swept away I'm running from the city lights I'm running from this empty life I'm running out of time tonight I'm screaming out for "Help! Help!" "Slow down, your moving too fast Go home, you'll feel better for it Oh boy, you better stop dreaming It's all in your head!" 'Cause it's too late now... Ride on, ride till early morning sun Ride on, like the dawning of the day It's too late, to let all your feelings show Go on, til the night is swept away... Ride on, ride till early morning sun Ride on, like the morning of the day It's too late, to let all your feelings show Ride on, til the night is swept away...



Lyrics submitted by Matty

Track duration: 04:52

"It's Too Late" as written by Nanci Griffith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


It's Too Late song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I believe the song is about the (boy) leaving his home and starting a new life elsewhere (traveling, new job out of time, studying in a new city). Monday is the day before he leaves and he has been lying in bed thinking about all the things he will leave behind maybe this is the last day he gets to spend with his family/friends; he's probably thinking "If I wasn't leaving I could lie here all day" or "Maybe I should just lie here and forget leaving". On Tuesday he has already said his goodbyes and is reminiscing about all the fun he had prior to leaving, looking through photos and keepsakes one last time before he leaves them behind (in his parents garage?); kind of like when you are moving house and you walk around the old house remembering all the things that happened in the kitchen/lounge etc. He leaves them lying on the floor which I believe is because he wants to leave a little piece of himself back there for his family/friends and he is just letting them lie where they lie as a way of saying goodbye to them. If you have ever had friends or family leave you will understand, if they left their hat for example, you want to leave where it is because you know they were the last person to touch it/wear it. But eventually he knows he can't hold it off any longer and must leave.

    The chorus has a hidden meaning, I think the reason he is leaving is because he was holding out for someone he loves and wanted to start a relationship with, but someone else asked her first and he has to move on with his life. And now it's too late to tell her how he feels because she would never come with him, so he just has to leave it all behind and move on. Although he is still sad because he is dreaming about what could have been if he stayed, and the voice of reason inside his head is telling him he just has to keep going; its too late to back out of leaving.

    The next phase of the song is when he is committed to leaving and he is using his grief as energy to push him on his way, while all the time his heart is screaming "no help help". I imagine driving back home after a long holiday and putting your foot to the floor, and feeling the adrenaline which serves as an outlet for all your built up emotion; before panicking and realizing what you're doing is dangerous and thinking "stop stop" (help help).

    "slow down you're moving too fast..."
    now he is thinking stuff it I don't need to leave I should just turn back then I don't have to feel sad I can do all the things I'm dreaming about, before instantly realizing that this is no longer an option, he couldn't turn back even if he wanted to "it's too late now".

    The final chorus is his acceptance of the fact that he has to keep going and move on, which is why it is repeated twice to drive the point home.
    Flag RegdarDon July 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: This song relates to the difficulties I face in my life. Being out of shape for swim practice and performing worst than my previous year in school are some of my trials. The first verse of the song speaks about the stale routine the singer follows in life, and how he wishes to escape from this monotonous state. “I left a box of memories lying on the floor” is his old life which he disregards in order to fulfill his dreams.

    As the song jumps into its horse-galloping chorus, the singer’s new path has begun and he rides into the unforeseen future. He escapes from society and his past empty life, but soon finds himself in trouble. The pessimistic voice tells him to give up on his dreams because they’re only a waste of time. This voice of self doubt always tries to break my spirits, but I persevere and continue to ride on.

    Chee hee, Lee!
    Flag Brokensiteon December 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:absolutely love this song... their best ever!! they seem to be quite fascinated with dreams/fantasy/time which is no exception in this song ... too bad their other songs have never quite lived up to the standard they set with this one!! p.s any one who thinks they are like coldplay u are wrong .. they are 100 times better!!
    Flag robforzamilan16on March 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Never heard this song I don't think but I need to say this...

    I thought... it was not too late... 'cause it's NEVER too late! (never too late, three days grace. yes I advertise songs now ;))
    Flag Fallen Leaveson August 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:omg.. i was getting soo pissed reading this cos people kept saying "the lead singer" his name is JON!!!! no, i didn't spell it wrong it is spelt J-O-N.. he's my future husband ;) but anyway i think everyone basically has the meaning right
    Flag clarelovesevermoreon August 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree that it's about favouring dreams over reality, that fits with it being released on the album "Dreams".
    I find there's a real dichotomy between the lyrics which are rather grim, and the intense, rythmic drumming. I think that's what makes the song so powerful because it deals with those "harsh realities" of life but ultimately captures an uplifting kind of feeling.
    Flag 1kilometreon August 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:we performed this song at our assembly at school, it was awesome.
    i think it's about how some people dare to go after something, 'dreams' if you will. They dont have to be good, sometimes if they're depressed they'll go after what they feel is right. But it's a dream. Maybe they want to go somewhere in life, maybe they want to take a leap of faith, start afresh. But one day they wake up and this occurrs to them.
    And afterwards, after 'monday morning', on 'tuesday evening' they'll embark on that journey. They'll leave behind something. If their journey is a journey of change, they're leaving behind what they're changing about themselves as a 'box of memories'. 'It's too late' because once they've started they have to see the journey through to the end.
    If their journey is one where they're running away from something, hiding from it, then they're eventually going to have to face it, and they 'better stop dreamin'.
    LOVE THIS SONG!!!
    (ps, i'm aware that was a huge comment =.=)
    Flag Ru3on July 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Umm the poster bffandincubus has a point. its deceptive to your ears. cause its actually quite sad. i know wtf he's talking about, he's too depressed to live in reality so he escapes into his head, dreaming and sleeping, and before long its too late to for him to communicate his heart and soul into the matter of it and he loses out on life, so things end up becoming memories. i know what it feels like to say the least. And yes the drum beat is awesome.
    Flag GrungyBeatleon February 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song relax me, allow me to see the world with a gret peace, this song, this song, i imagine myself driving by the sea side with this wonderful song
    Flag leocolombiaon September 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think its funny how a lot of people have said they listen to this song to relax, or to cheer them up... i think it's a terribly depressing song. What about love? What about trust? Sounds like someone's had their heart smashed into pieces! Anyway it just shows how we all percieve songs differently. But i must agree, the keys and drums are awesome in this song... its a really unusual and unique sound... and thats why we love Evermore!
    Flag bffandincubuson May 07, 2006   Link

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