Mark Chesnutt – It’s a Little Too Late

“It’s a Little Too Late” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Mark Chesnutt. It was released in September 1996 as the lead single from his Greatest Hits compilation album. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The song was written by Chesnutt, Roger Springer and Slugger Morrissette.

The song describes a narrator whose woman had recently walked out on him, wanting him to be a better man. The narrator keeps stating in his mind that he should have done something for the woman: “I should’ve done this and I should’ve done that / I should’ve been there then she’d have never left / I should’ve been hangin’ on to every word she ever had to say / But it’s a little too late, she’s a little too gone / She’s a little too right, I’m a little too wrong / Now would be a good time to change / But it’s a little too late.”

In the second verse, the narrator states coming home late, and that his lover was not mad at him and thought she realized not worrying about him. The next morning, the narrator then finds her gone.

From the album Greatest Hits
B-side “The King of Broken Hearts”
Released September 30, 1996
Recorded 1996
Genre Country
Length 2:43
Label Decca Nashville
Songwriter(s) Mark Chesnutt, Roger Springer, Slugger Morrissette
Producer(s) Tony Brown

Mark Chesnutt – It’s a Little Too Late Lyrics

Well early this morning it dawned on me
The kind of man she needed me to be
She made a list and laid it there beside me on the bed
Now what I should’ve done keeps running through my head

Oh, I should’ve done this and I should’ve done that
I should’ve been there then she’d have never left
I should’ve been hanging on every word she ever had to say
But it’s a little too late she’s a little too gone
She’s a little too right, I’m a little too wrong
Now would be a good time to change but it’s a little too late

Last night I came home at a quarter till three
And to my surprise she wasn’t mad at me
I thought she’d finally realized not to worry I’d be home
And then I realized this morning she was gone

Oh, I should’ve done this and I should’ve done that
I should’ve been there then she’d have never left
I should’ve been hanging on every word she ever had to say
But it’s a little too late she’s a little too gone
She’s a little too right, I’m a little too wrong
Now would be a good time to change but it’s a little too late

But it’s a little too late she’s a little too gone
She’s a little too right, I’m a little too wrong
Now would be a good time to change but it’s a little too late

Right now would be the time to change
But it’s a little too late…