By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.
The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.
There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.
The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php
Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php
In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php
It's Too Late
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess my daddy had his hard times too
I'm askin' you baby
Why make me wait?
You better love me now
(Before It's too late)
Now that I need you
(It's too late)
Now that I love you yeah
(It's too late)
I thought we'd make it
(It's too late)
But I can't take it
I'm beggin' you baby
Won't you give me a break
You better love me now
(Before It's too late)
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
I'm beggin' you baby
Won't you give me a break
You better love me now
(Before It's too late)
I know it's too late
Yes I do
Cause I can't fool myself no longer
And I hear my concience keep on saying
(It's too late)
Who was I foolin?
(It's too late)
Only myself yeah
(It's too late)
And I can't stay here
(It's too late)
Like no fool gonna share no no no
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late baby
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late now
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late baby
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late now
The song "It's Too Late" by Small Faces is simplistic yet emotionally charged, highlighting the desperation of one's need for love before it's too late. The first verse reveals the singer's father warning him about heartbreak and girls who will come and go throughout his life. However, he is still powerless to stop his love for this particular girl. The singer pleads with her, questioning why she's making him wait and why she can't love him now before it's too late. He becomes increasingly desperate, asking her to give him a break and love him now in the chorus.
Despite his pleas, the singer realizes that it's too late. He can't fool himself any longer, knowing that the girl won't love him back. The repetition of "it's too late" throughout the final verse emphasizes his resignation and desolation. The song is about love and timing, how one needs to love and be loved in the present, or they'll risk losing it forever. It's a relatable concept that most people can understand, making the song timeless and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy told me there'll be girls like you
My father warned me that there would be women like you.
I guess my daddy had his hard times too
I think my father also had to go through similar tough situations.
I'm askin' you baby
Why make me wait?
I am requesting you, dear, why do you want me to wait for your love?
You better love me now
(Before It's too late)
It would be best if you love me now before it becomes too late to do so.
(It's too late)
Now that I need you
It's unfortunate that you're not available now when I need you the most.
(It's too late)
Now that I love you yeah
It's painful to realize that I am in love with you, but it's already too late to do anything about it.
(It's too late)
I thought we'd make it
I had hoped that our love would succeed, but as things stand, it seems unlikely.
(It's too late)
But I can't take it
It's becoming unbearable for me to continue in this state of uncertainty and unrequited love.
I'm beggin' you baby
Won't you give me a break
I am pleading with you, my love, to let me catch a break in this difficult situation.
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
(It's too late)
Repeated emphasis on the fact that the situation has gone beyond correcting.
I know it's too late
Yes I do
I acknowledge that the situation has reached a point of no return.
Cause I can't fool myself no longer
And I hear my concience keep on saying
I have come to realize that I can no longer deceive myself about our situation, and my conscience keeps reminding me of that.
(It's too late)
Who was I foolin?
I am questioning myself on how I ever managed to fool myself thinking that we could have a future together.
(It's too late)
Only myself yeah
It dawns on me that I was lying to myself about our prospects for a future together.
(It's too late)
And I can't stay here
It's become impossible for me to remain in this state of uncertainty and unrequited love any longer.
(It's too late)
Like no fool gonna share no no no
Just like a fool, I cannot continue in this unrequited love, and I won't share this pain with anyone.
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late baby
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late now
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late baby
(It's too late)
Ohh it's too late now
The chorus is repeated to emphasize the fact that it's already too late to salvage the situation.
Contributed by Kylie P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Debracadabrah
he bloody well was! he set the mould. often imitated, emulated, copied, ripped off....no one came close to what he could with his voice and stage presence. a one off who deserves so much more recognition than he currently gets!
Abel Sr
The entire band was awesome. Bass player was incredible and we know about the drummer following the demise of Keith Moon.
stOOpid68
Marriott's on form on this KILLER track!! one of their best!! nice one Mr. Seeker =) Lee Liverpool Mods.
AJ Doubleu
Steve's voice 🙈 can't get enough.
StanleyWiddos
that bass line oh my god. It's such a shame these guys wern't better managed. They could've knocked everyone out.
AJ Doubleu
Yes I agree. I felt The Animals were in the same predicament too.
sean curran
@Martin Schneider Daltrey was flat unable to sing like Steve, Daltreys voice was average.
Daze
That's one of the best guitar solo's I ever heard.
Rick Kanyon
YES NiCE SOLO,BUT MY QUESTION IS THIS SOLO IS STEVE OR JIMMY.
Gerry Radford
Marriott Lane Jones Mclagan ,,,,, what can you say !!! ONE OF THE GREATEST BANDS EVER !!!! Gx