Volgens Robert Christgau de meest volwassen song ooit over het verbreken van een relatie: “-if there’s a truer song about breaking up than “It’s Too Late,” the world (or at least AM radio) isn’t ready for it”. Niemand is schuldig, niemand is ontrouw geweest, geen terugkijken in wrok – alleen de nuchtere constatering dat de warme gevoelens er nog steeds zijn, maar de liefde niet meer. Wat welbeschouwd wél zo aangrijpend is als het gebruikelijke gebedel en gesnotter.
[Verse 1]
Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time
There’s something wrong here, there can be no denying
One of us is changing
Or maybe we just stopped trying
[Chorus]
And it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it
Something inside has died
And I can’t hide and I just can’t fake it
Oh no no no no (no no, no no)
[Verse 2]
It used to be so easy living 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
[Chorus]
And it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can’t make it)
Something inside has died
And I can’t hide and I just can’t fake it
Ohhhh, nooo no
{Instrumental}
(Do do do do do do do do doooo do dooooo dahhhhh)
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
But it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can’t make it)
Something inside has died and I can’t hide
And I just can’t fake it
Ohhhh, nooo no no no no
[Outro]
It’s too late, baby
It’s too late, now darlin’
It’s too late
Uitgelichte afbeelding: Carole King in 2012. Door Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23053160
