Too Late

The Dear Hunter's song 'Too Late' delves into the haunting aftermath of a relationship that has disintegrated, leaving behind only memories and remnants of what once was. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a scene filled with the physical and emotional debris of a love that has gone awry. The opening lines, 'Pages burn on a porcelain plate. The smoke fills the air as if all along it was our fate that brought you and I near,' suggest a sense of inevitability and finality, as if the relationship was doomed from the start. The imagery of burning pages and smoke symbolizes the destruction and the lingering presence of past emotions.

The song continues to describe a setting filled with tangible reminders of the past, such as 'Green shag carpets damp from last night's beer' and 'The scent of lipstick everywhere.' These details evoke a sense of nostalgia and loss, as the protagonist struggles to come to terms with the end of the relationship. The line 'You lost a bet when you met me dear, but I thought I'd won the lottery' highlights the contrasting perspectives of the two individuals involved, with one feeling regret and the other initially feeling fortunate.

As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the protagonist's struggle to move on, with phrases like 'Dirty on the ground, and nothing left to be found between us' and 'Breathing in one last breath as I inhale the scent of you.' The recurring motifs of smoke, stale cigarettes, and red wine residue serve as metaphors for the lingering presence of the past and the difficulty of letting go. The song captures the essence of a love that has left an indelible mark, haunting the protagonist with memories and the scent of what once was.