It's Too Late
Otis Redding Lyrics


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Wished i had told her
Ooh she was my only one
But it's too late, it's too late
She's gone

It's too late, she's gone now
I know she's gone now
It's too late, my baby's gone now
I need her loving
Oh more than anyone ooh
But it's too late, i know it's too late
She's gone

It's a weak man that cry now
So i guess i better
Guess i better dry my weeping eyes now
I need her loving
More than anyone oh
But it's too late
It seems like it's too late
She's gone

She's gone, my baby's gone,
She's gone, oh my baby, she's gone
She's gone, my baby's she's gone
But where can, where can my my baby be

Lord, i wonder sometimes
Does she really know
Does she really know
Does she really know when she left me
Oh it hurt little heart so now
I need your loving
Please don't make me wait
Lord, but it's too late, it's too late
She's gone
I need your loving
Oh more than anyone
Don't let it be too late
No, don't let it be too late
But she's gone

Wished i had told her
Ooh she was my only one
Ooh but it's too late
I know it's to late
She's gone




Wished i had told her
Oh she was the only one...

Overall Meaning

The song “It’s Too Late” by Otis Redding describes the regret of a man who did not express his love and affection to his partner before it was too late. Otis begins singing about how he wished he had told her that she was his only one, but now she’s gone, and it’s too late. He repeats this phrase several times throughout the song, emphasizing how he missed his chance to say what he truly felt about her. Although he still needs her love more than anyone, it seems like it’s already too late. Afterward, he repeats the phrase “She’s gone” several times; this shows how he's trying to come to terms with the fact that he's lost her, but still in denial. Otis speculates whether his girlfriend will return and wonders if she knows how much he misses her. He pleads with her not to let it be too late, but at the same time, he acknowledges that she is gone.


The lyrics of “It’s Too Late” express how important it is to express love and affection to those we care about before it’s too late. Furthermore, the song reminds us of how regrets can stay with us, reinforcing the importance of acting on our feelings early on in life, before it becomes too late. Otis’ delivery of the emotions in the song, with his powerful voice and a melancholic melody, evokes the pain and suffering of lost love.


Line by Line Meaning

Wished i had told her
I regret not telling her how much she meant to me


Ooh she was my only one
She was the most important person in my life


But it's too late, it's too late
Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done now


She's gone
She has passed away or left me for good


It's too late, she's gone now
I realize now that it's too late because she is no longer with me


I need her loving
I miss her affection and care


Oh more than anyone ooh
No one else can replace her in my heart


It's too late, my baby's gone now
I've lost the one person who meant everything to me


It seems like it's too late
I fear that I will never be able to get her back


It's a weak man that cry now
Crying won't help bring her back; I need to be strong


So i guess i better
I need to stop crying now and move on


Guess i better dry my weeping eyes now
I need to stop crying and be strong


She's gone, my baby's gone,
I can't believe she's really gone


But where can, where can my my baby be
I don't know where she is or what happened to her


Lord, i wonder sometimes
I question whether or not she knows how much I loved her


Does she really know
I hope she knew how much she meant to me


Oh it hurt little heart so now
I'm in so much pain because of her absence


Please don't make me wait
I need her back in my life as soon as possible


No, don't let it be too late
I can't bear to lose her forever




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: CHUCK WILLIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Qcrew100

Gone by Kanye West I fell in love with that song. I was always wondering who was singing the "too late" part. I wanted new music to listen to. I went to Google and searched, Top 100 R&B Singers, I was going through the list, stopped on Otis Redding. Searched him up on YouTube and I fell in love with him. When I heard this song, my jaw completely dropped! I thought, no way! That's off of Kanye West's song! Now, I love Otis Redding more. lol This guy is amazing.

@shaneb.3982

The absolute greatest soul singer in the world. Never felt music before this man.

@davidreid5368

His sounds just seem to grab you understand what your saying

@obadijahparks

Sam cooke too brother.

@409CJ

@@obadijahparks same thing I said after reading this comment. Sam, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye. Can't sleep on Smokey either.

@Griimmyyy

I've heard the Kanye version so much I'm expecting a beat drop at the beginning 😂

@Kevin-tt8hq

"Uh oh..."

@sofakingwetodddid1685

Amen haha

@sofakingwetodddid1685

@@Kevin-tt8hq haha I just said that first thing that's said great haha

@dboogeman2002

Get in touch with the originals. You only expect the original

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