Too Late To Say Goodbye
Cage the Elephant Lyrics

Oh, my precious ember burning, my sweet glowing light
The singer is addressing their lover, describing them as a precious ember that burns with a sweet glow.

From the moment I first saw you I was yours and you were mine
The singer is saying that they became deeply attached to their lover from the very beginning.

Deep down we both knew you were trouble by design
The singer acknowledges that their lover was trouble from the start, but they were still drawn to them.

And the echo of my mother's words, "Baby, don't you play with fire"
The artist recalls their mother's warning not to get involved with someone who is likely to cause trouble.

I was always playing the part, first love only set by a spark
The artist admits that they were always drawn to the excitement of their first love, even though they knew it was dangerous.

There was no way changing my mind
The singer admits that they were too stubborn to change their mind about their dangerous lover.

Now I'm under your spell, trapped in a lie
The singer is now trapped in a relationship that is built on lies, but they are unable to break free.

Shouldn't have stood that close to the fire
The artist regrets getting too close to their lover's dangerous nature.

No turning back, no where to run, no where to hide
The artist feels trapped and unable to escape their dangerous lover.

It's too late to say goodbye
The artist acknowledges that it is too late to end their relationship with their lover, even though they know it is dangerous.

Push back from my heart, wish we could go back to the start
The singer wishes they could push their feelings for their lover away and go back to the beginning of their relationship, before it became dangerous.

But oh my god is this real no more time
The artist realizes that their relationship is real, but they also realize that there is no more time left to change it for the better.

I can hear the sounds of sirens circling around
The singer hears the sounds of danger approaching, perhaps a warning of what is to come.

Forced to watch the ashes floating, softly drifting to the ground
The singer is forced to watch as their relationship falls apart in front of them, with nothing left but ashes.

After all the dust has settled, we can settle down
The singer suggests that they can only settle down once the chaos and danger has passed.

Just the two of us forever, no one else around
The artist imagines being with their lover forever, with no one around to interfere or cause trouble.

But oh my god no escape, no more time
Despite their wishes, the artist realizes that there is no escaping their dangerous relationship, and time is running out.