Queen - It's Late (Alternative Version)

This version of It's Late comes from the 2017 News Of The World 40th Anniversary "Raw Sessions" CD by Bob Ludwig and was released on November 17th, 2017 in the UK.

Unfortunately, this release from 2017 has autotune/pitch correction done on the lead vocals on many tracks. Some of which are more obvious than others.

The engineer can be heard at the start of this version saying "Take 2". Freddie has a false start at the beginning as he tries to get comfortable with the song. The lyrics are mostly complete with a few minor differences in the first third of the song (particularly in the first few verses). In terms of structure and performance, the song stays pretty true to the final version used on the album. The backing vocals are very similar, if not the ones used on the final album version. The rest of the performance is unique. Of note, Freddie's piano playing can be heard during some of the jamming sections of the song, which is a welcome addition. At the end, the engineer comments that he "likes that", while Brian comments that he wants it a bit "angry".

Written by: Brian May
Produced by: Queen, assisted by Mike Stone
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
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Lyrics / Transcription:

Mike Stone: Take 2
Freddie: One two, one two, ohh, yeah
You say
Freddie: Alright

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
Turning my mind away
Woh-oh, how I could love you
But I don't know the way
Oh, but you should love me
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

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, yeah
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 - oh, and it's driving me so mad
It's late - yes I know but don't try to 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

I've been so long
You've been so long
We've been so long, ohhh, trying to work it out, yeah
I ain't got long
You ain't got long
We've gotta know what this life is all about
Take it

Too late, is it much too late
Ooh, ahhh, we've got to get to get, ooh yeah

You're staring at me,
With suspicion in your eye, yes
You say what game are you playing?
What's this that you're saying?
I know that I can't give no reply, yes, come on
If I take you tonight
Is it making my life a lie, yeah
Oh, you make me wonder
Did I live my life right

It's late - yes it's late but it's time to set me free
It's late - yes I know but there's no way it has to be
Too late - 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) yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
It's late, it's late, it's late
Tt's all too late

Wow, oh, it's too late, come on
Um, late, too late, oh yeah

Freddie: I forget it's so short
Mike Stone: Oh, I like that
Brian: Good, I wanted it to be a little bit angry
Mike Stone: Right, it's good
Brian: Let's hear that then