Better Late Than Never: Jackson Browne

One song today.

Just one beautifully written song telling of the realization that sometimes love doesn't quite last forever. Most of us know the feeling. It's not a good one, and not many of us could so eloquently convey the feeling of a heart both broken... and hardened.

"Late For The Sky" by Jackson Browne.

There are at least thirty songs by Jackson Browne I could showcase, and on another day we may take a listen to a few others. But today, we will just listen to this beautiful goodbye. Read the words as you listen to the song.


"Now the words had all been spoken and somehow the feeling still wasn't right
And still we continued on through the night
Tracing our steps from the beginning until they vanished into the air
Trying to understand how our lives had led us there."

If it was good, you try to talk it out, until talking becomes excruciatingly painful.

"Looking hard into your eyes, there was nobody I'd ever known
Such an empty surprise, to feel so alone.
Now for me some words come easy, but I know that they don't mean that much
Compared with the things that are said when lovers touch"

Have we changed that much, or did we never really know each other?

"You never knew what I loved in you, I don't know what you loved in me
Maybe the picture of somebody you were hoping I might be."
Awake again, I can't pretend, 
and I know I'm alone and close to the end 
of the feeling we've known."

Realization, maybe it can't be fixed.

"How long have I been sleeping
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been dreaming I could make it right
If I closed my eyes and tried with all my might
to be the one you need."

Have things really been bad for so long and we just never realized?


"Awake again, I can't pretend, 
and I know I'm alone and close to the end 
of the feeling we've known."


"How long have I been sleeping
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been running for that morning flight
Through the whispered promises and the changing light
Of the bed where we both lie...late for the sky."


 Always wondered if the last line...the bed where we both lie was meant to describe just where they slept or the fact that the relationship has turned into a lie. Perfect end.

Listen to two tastes of this very poignant song. First up a live, almost haunting version then the studio cut.

"Late for the Sky" ...live
"Late for the Sky"...studio

Simply written, simply heartbreaking, simply brilliant.

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