It's Late
Queen · The Crown Jewels [1998]
(Scene 1)
You say you love me
And I hardly know your name
And if I say I love you in the candle light
There's no-one but myself to blame
But there's something inside
That's turning my mind away
Woh - how I could love you
If I could let you stay
It's late - and I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late - ooh, is it just my sickly pride ?
Too late - even now the feeling seems to steal away
So late - though I'm crying I can't help but hear you say
It's late - It's late - It's late
But not too late
(Scene 2)
Mmm, yeah
The way you love me
Is the sweetest love around
But after all this time
The more I'm trying
The more I seem to let you down, yes
Now you tell me you're leaving
And I just can't believe it's true
Oh, you know that I can love you
Though I know I can't be true
Oh, you made me love you
Don't tell me that we're through
It's late - mmm, and it's driving me so mad
It's late - yes I know, but don't try and tell me that it's
Too late - save our love you can't turn out the light
So late - I've been wrong but I'll learn to be right
It's late - It's late - It's late
But not too late
- mmm, I've been so long
- You've been so long
- We've been so long tryin' to work it out
- I ain't got long
- You ain't got long
- We've gotta know what this life's all about, ooh
- Tell me
- Tryin' to work it out, yeah, ooh
- ooh too late, yeah, too late, much too late, aaah
(Scene 3)
You're staring at me
With suspicion in your eye
You say what game are you playing ?
What's this that you're saying ?
I know that I can't reply
If I take you tonight
Is it making my life a lie ?
Oh you make me wonder
Did I live my life right ?
It's late - ooh, but it's time to set me free
It's late - ooh, yes I know, but there's no way it has to be
Too late - so let the fire take our bodies this night
So late - let the waters take our guilt in the tide
It's late - It's late - It's late - It's late
It's late - It's late - It's late
Oh, It's all too late
Woah, woah, c'mon
Ooh m m m m late too late oh yeah
Waaa
You say you love me
And I hardly know your name
And if I say I love you in the candle light
There's no-one but myself to blame
But there's something inside
That's turning my mind away
Woh - how I could love you
If I could let you stay
It's late - and I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late - ooh, is it just my sickly pride ?
Too late - even now the feeling seems to steal away
So late - though I'm crying I can't help but hear you say
It's late - It's late - It's late
But not too late
(Scene 2)
Mmm, yeah
The way you love me
Is the sweetest love around
But after all this time
The more I'm trying
The more I seem to let you down, yes
Now you tell me you're leaving
And I just can't believe it's true
Oh, you know that I can love you
Though I know I can't be true
Oh, you made me love you
Don't tell me that we're through
It's late - mmm, and it's driving me so mad
It's late - yes I know, but don't try and tell me that it's
Too late - save our love you can't turn out the light
So late - I've been wrong but I'll learn to be right
It's late - It's late - It's late
But not too late
- mmm, I've been so long
- You've been so long
- We've been so long tryin' to work it out
- I ain't got long
- You ain't got long
- We've gotta know what this life's all about, ooh
- Tell me
- Tryin' to work it out, yeah, ooh
- ooh too late, yeah, too late, much too late, aaah
(Scene 3)
You're staring at me
With suspicion in your eye
You say what game are you playing ?
What's this that you're saying ?
I know that I can't reply
If I take you tonight
Is it making my life a lie ?
Oh you make me wonder
Did I live my life right ?
It's late - ooh, but it's time to set me free
It's late - ooh, yes I know, but there's no way it has to be
Too late - so let the fire take our bodies this night
So late - let the waters take our guilt in the tide
It's late - It's late - It's late - It's late
It's late - It's late - It's late
Oh, It's all too late
Woah, woah, c'mon
Ooh m m m m late too late oh yeah
Waaa
It's Late - Queen
Released on The Crown Jewels compilation in 1998, 'It's Late' stands as a quintessential example of Queen's late-period rock and roll energy. The track features Freddie Mercury's signature vocal delivery, characterized by its soaring highs and rhythmic intensity, delivered over a driving guitar riff that defines the band's hard rock aesthetic. While the song was not part of their original studio discography, it captures the raw power and theatrical flair that made Queen a global phenomenon. Its inclusion on various collector's editions highlights its enduring appeal as a staple of their live performances and recorded catalog, cementing its status as a defining anthem of the 1970s rock era.