Prompt / Lyrics
TOO LATE TO KNOW By Kimberly Arce Verse 1 I was learning how to breathe while you were learning how to leave Two souls in the same house, living different truths I called it forever back then, didn’t see how forever doesn’t end — it thins like a tide that disappears without a sound Pre-Chorus And I kept saying, one more year kept saying, I’ll meet you there By the time I knew what love was you were already gone in pieces Chorus I never truly had it or maybe I was close Close enough to feel the warmth not enough to hold Now I’m standing in the open arms finally wide But no one holds me like you did nowhere else has felt like home I finally know how to love just not who to love tonight Verse 2 Seven years of almost speaking seven years of almost seen We learned how to function, not how to lean And I can feel you letting go now as I’m finally learning how to be the love I need for the woman I now see And I’m out here practicing love I don’t feel knowing in my heart none of it’s real Pre-Chorus And I keep asking, where’d it go keep asking, did I know What I was holding in my hands before I let it slip through Chorus I never truly had it or maybe I was close Close enough to feel the warmth not enough to hold Now I’m standing in the open arms finally wide But no one holds me like you did nowhere else has felt like home I finally know how to love just not who to love tonight Verse 3 You said something didn’t feel right showed up unannounced that night Door unlocked, lights low, silence in the hall I was on the floor, couldn’t move somewhere between gone and bruised Didn’t even hear you when you called You didn’t ask me what was wrong you just knelt and pulled me up Held me like my body still belonged to me Stayed until my breath came back till the shaking finally passed Then you helped me stand and face the day again Bridge Maybe love’s not loud or sudden maybe it waits until you break Maybe I was always capable just a version too late I don’t blame you or myself — just the timing, just the years I became who I was meant to be when no one stayed to see Final Chorus I never truly had it or maybe I was close Close enough to feel the warmth not enough to hold Now I’m standing in the open arms finally wide But no one holds me like you did nowhere else has felt like home I finally know how to love just not who to love tonight Outro So I’ll keep showing up to tables keep saying yes to this That fragile, almost something that almost-perfect kiss If it’s out there, it will find me now I know what I allow I finally know how to love I’m just learning who and how © Kim Burgess — Too Late to Know
Tags
Single acoustic guitar, fingerpick No percussion. No prod. Just wood and wire and female voice. Light cello at end
Duration
4:46
Instrumental
No
Created
3/19/2026