2 Late

The Cure's song '2 Late' delves into the depths of longing and unfulfilled desire. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone waiting for a person who never arrives, symbolizing a perpetual state of anticipation and disappointment. The narrator waits 'where I always wait,' suggesting a routine of hope that has become a part of their daily life. This place, 'behind the signs that sell the news,' could be a metaphor for the mundane and repetitive nature of their existence, where the only excitement comes from the hope of seeing the person they long for.

The imagery of 'your hat pushed straight away from me' and 'your measured step' conveys a sense of distance and inaccessibility. The person the narrator waits for seems to be always just out of reach, moving away with a deliberate and unhurried pace. This distance is further emphasized by the line 'always too late,' indicating that the narrator's efforts to connect are perpetually thwarted. The use of 'invisible against the words that hold you down in solitude' suggests that the person is trapped in their own world, unable to break free and connect with the narrator.

The recurring theme of rain and the imagery of 'lids of wooden men in file' evoke a sense of melancholy and resignation. The rain symbolizes the narrator's sadness and the inevitability of their unfulfilled longing. The wooden lids closing over the eyes represent a mechanical, almost lifeless acceptance of their fate. The song captures the essence of waiting and the pain of unreciprocated feelings, making it a poignant exploration of human emotion and the complexities of desire.