Born Too Late
The Poni-Tails Lyrics
Born too late for you to notice me
To you, I'm just a kid that you won't date
Why was I born too late?
Born too late to have a chance to win your love
Oh why, oh why was it my fate
To be born too late?
I see you walk with another
I wish it could be me
But I know it never can be
For I was
Born too late for you to care
Now my heart cries
Because your heart just couldn't wait
Why was I born too late?
Born too late for you to care
Now my heart cries
Because your heart just couldn't wait
Why was I born too late?
Why was I born too late?
Too late
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES STROUSE, FRED TOBIAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
The Poni-Tails
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. Read Full BioThe Poni-Tails
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. They performed at school functions and benefits, and it was at one of these shows that they were spotted by an attorney, John Jewitt, who gave them an introduction to music publisher Tom Illius. Illius liked the soft style of the trio and their original song "Que La Bozena." Illius took them to the local Point Records, who issued their first single "Your Wild Heart" in January, 1957. Unfortunately, even innocence white girls were subjected to being covered. "Your Wild Heart" became a hit for Mercury artist Joy lane (#20) while the Version by the Poni-Tails, named for the hairstyle they wore at the time, became an instant collectible.
With Illius managing the group they had one more single with Marc Records "Can I Be Sure".
Tony and LaVerne auditioned for a replacement for Karen when her father made her leave the group. They came up with former Regina High student Patti McCabe.
Illius got ABC Records' Don Costa , later to produce/arrange for Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and found DCP Records; interested in the group. ABC released "It's Just My Luck To Be 15" by the end of 1957. It quickly disappeared.
With a similar theme "Born Too Late" made the Poni-Tails part of rock and roll history. It reached number seven on Billboard's Top 100 and number five in England. The group might have remained anonymous if ABC had had its way as they were promoting the other side "Come On Joey, Dance With Me". It was only after several Cleveland deejays pushed "Born Too Late," the other side, that the record took off.
The model of what parents of the 50s considered to be "the safe look" appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand by the Poni-Tails further fostered that image.
For the next two years the Poni-Tails attempted to recapture the magic of "Born Too Late". Despite its suggestive title "Seven Minutes To Heaven," their next single, only reached number 87 in December, 1958. Their last record to chart was "I'll Be Seeing You," a rockaballad that went down well at record hops as a "ladies choice" number, in late fall of 1959. "Who, When, and Why" was their last record in 1960.
ABC still wanted to renew their contract for another five years in 1960, but the Poni-Tails decided to call it a career and settle into family life.
"The three years were fun, but I just wanted to get out of the record business and get back to normal living." (Toni Cistone)
In 1991 LaVerne (Novak) Glivic was working for a real estate agent in Menor, Ohio, and had five grandchildren. Toni (Cistone) Costabile was working at a high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Patti (McCabe) Barnes died of cancer in January, 1989. Tom Illius went on to become a top executive with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles.
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. Read Full BioThe Poni-Tails
The wispy innocence of the Poni-Tails' harmony has been heard on oldies radio for over thirty years thanks to one timely hit "Born Too Late." A record about an older boy, "Born Too Late" is a rock and roll classic, a "girl group goldie," and round the world favorite.
The trio of Toni Cistone (lead vocals), LaVerne Novak (high harmony), and Karen Topinka (low harmony) were students at Brush High School in Lynhurst, Ohio near Cleveland, when they started singing together in 1956. They performed at school functions and benefits, and it was at one of these shows that they were spotted by an attorney, John Jewitt, who gave them an introduction to music publisher Tom Illius. Illius liked the soft style of the trio and their original song "Que La Bozena." Illius took them to the local Point Records, who issued their first single "Your Wild Heart" in January, 1957. Unfortunately, even innocence white girls were subjected to being covered. "Your Wild Heart" became a hit for Mercury artist Joy lane (#20) while the Version by the Poni-Tails, named for the hairstyle they wore at the time, became an instant collectible.
With Illius managing the group they had one more single with Marc Records "Can I Be Sure".
Tony and LaVerne auditioned for a replacement for Karen when her father made her leave the group. They came up with former Regina High student Patti McCabe.
Illius got ABC Records' Don Costa , later to produce/arrange for Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and found DCP Records; interested in the group. ABC released "It's Just My Luck To Be 15" by the end of 1957. It quickly disappeared.
With a similar theme "Born Too Late" made the Poni-Tails part of rock and roll history. It reached number seven on Billboard's Top 100 and number five in England. The group might have remained anonymous if ABC had had its way as they were promoting the other side "Come On Joey, Dance With Me". It was only after several Cleveland deejays pushed "Born Too Late," the other side, that the record took off.
The model of what parents of the 50s considered to be "the safe look" appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand by the Poni-Tails further fostered that image.
For the next two years the Poni-Tails attempted to recapture the magic of "Born Too Late". Despite its suggestive title "Seven Minutes To Heaven," their next single, only reached number 87 in December, 1958. Their last record to chart was "I'll Be Seeing You," a rockaballad that went down well at record hops as a "ladies choice" number, in late fall of 1959. "Who, When, and Why" was their last record in 1960.
ABC still wanted to renew their contract for another five years in 1960, but the Poni-Tails decided to call it a career and settle into family life.
"The three years were fun, but I just wanted to get out of the record business and get back to normal living." (Toni Cistone)
In 1991 LaVerne (Novak) Glivic was working for a real estate agent in Menor, Ohio, and had five grandchildren. Toni (Cistone) Costabile was working at a high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Patti (McCabe) Barnes died of cancer in January, 1989. Tom Illius went on to become a top executive with the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles.
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AR Iglesias Utset
Born too late for you to notice me
To you, I'm just a kid that you won't date
Why was I born too late?
Born too late to have a chance to win your love
Oh why, oh why was it my fate
To be born too late?
I see you walk with another
I wish it could be me
I long to hold you and kiss you
But I know it never can be
For I was
Born too late for you to care
Now my heart cries
Because your heart just couldn't wait
Why was I born too late?
Born too late for you to care
Now my heart cries
Because your heart just couldn't wait
Why was I born too late?
Why was I born too late?
Too late
Ernest Martinez
Wait For Me
by The Playmates 1960
🎶Wait, for me (wait for me)
Wait, for me (wait for me)
When I first met her she was only three,
And I remember how she followed me,
She was always getting in my way,
And I still, yes I still can hear her say,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me,
I love you more than I can hardly stand,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me,
I'll grow up just as fast as I can.
Wait, for me (wait for me)
Wait, for me (wait for me)
As we grew older she would always wait,
She'd wait for me by the schoolyard gate,
I would yell at her to go away,
And I still, yes I still can hear her say,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me,
I love you more than I can hardly stand,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me, I'll grow up just as fast as I can.
Wait, for me (wait for me)
Wait, for me (wait for me)
And now we're grown up but she didn't wait,
And I'm in love with her but it's too late,
She just married someone else
Today and I still, yes I still can hear her say,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me,
I love you more than I can hardly stand,
Wait for me, wait for me, Johnny please wait for me,
I'll grow up just as fast as I can.
Wait, for me, (wait, for me),
Johnny, wait for me. 🎶
Dottie4Carl
I was 13 when this song came out. Loved it like most everyone back then. Now I am almost 75 and really can't believe so much time has passed. It is really a classic and so full of memories!
Dane
If your really 75 then love u 💜
Joe Martra
So true ❤️
Lydia Lara
I agree. Where has the time gone. 72
paulina mamani
whaaat, you are a legend! I'm from argentina and I'm 14 years old :) i love this song
cychlone
I'm a 14 year old girl and I love Brenda Lee, Little Peggy March, Patsy Cline, Doris Day, Bernadette Carroll, Connie Francis, Dinah Shore, The Chordettes, and The Ronettes, to name a few. I'm always overjoyed to find gems like these, especially since I relate to this song so very much. ❤️
Abbie Kokee
You have great taste.
nocturnal cat
sorry u did not hear all this on the radio as a lot of us did from 1955 onward..even if we were kids in late 50s like the Beaver.
Sgt.StevenPG72
As a 50 year old growing up listening to my parents songs from the 50s and 60s. It definitely stuck cause i listen to these songs now in 2022. They are special to me cause both parents passed away in there 50s
George Petty
Popsicles and Icicles by the Murmaids might be another one you would enjoy.