Carole King

Carole King started her career as a songwriter in the 1960s for prominent musicians of the time, including Aretha Franklin's song "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman". During the 1970s, this song became a feminist anthem. King fully embraced feminist ideology and argued women should not be unhappy being female. Instead, women should revel in their femineity and understand the strength in being female. These ideas stem from the feminist movement of the 1970s.

Her most popular album "Tapestry", released in 1971, embodied the ideas of the women's liberation movement in a subtle and understated way. The lyricism and musicality of the album embraced the idea of Second Wave Feminism that "the personal is political". This album remained No. 1 on the Billboard charts for 15 weeks, and because of it, King won song of the year. She was the first woman to ever win that award.

"It's Too Late"

The song “It’s Too Late” describes the disillusionment at the end of a relationship. King explains that the relationship is over, and she can no longer try to make it work. This relationship could be either married or not, it is not clearly stated; however, either way, the woman is using her ability to choose to leave her relationship. The choice in relationships was gained during the 1970s feminist movement. If this song is talking about a married couple, then it fits into the experiences of the decade in which divorce rates were increasing, partially due again to the woman's right to choose and climbing freedoms in relationships.

And it's too late, baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin' inside has died
And I can't hide and I just can't fake it

Full Lyrics

Stayed in bed all mornin' just to pass the time
There's somethin' wrong here, there can be no denyin'
One of us is changin', or maybe we've just stopped tryin'

And it's too late, baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it
Somethin' inside has died
And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
Oh, no, no, no, no, no
(No, no, no, no)

It used to be so easy, livin' here with you
You were light and breezy, and I knew just what to do
Now you look so unhappy and I feel like a fool

And it's too late, baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can't make it)
Somethin' inside has died
And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
Oh, no, no

There'll be good times again for me and you
But we just can't stay together, don't you feel it, too?
Still I'm glad for what we had and how I once loved you

But it's too late, baby, now it's too late
Though we really did try to make it (we can't make it)
Somethin' inside has died
And I can't hide and I just can't fake it
Oh, no, no, no, no

It's too late, baby
It's too late now, darling
It's too late