Too Little Too Late - Musical Structure

Musical Structure

The song is in 4/4 time but can be analyzed as 9/8 alternating with 7/8. It is based around a 22-note rhythmic motif that can be broken down into three sets of triplets plus a half measure and another group of three and two, or 123-123-123-12-123-12 (3/8 + 3/8 + 3/8 + 2/8 + 5/8). It may be counted as 1-1-and-2 2-1-and-2 3-1-and-2 4-1-and 1-1-and-2 2-1-and. This device gives the song a push-pull feel which makes the beat seem like it is both falling behind and being rushed. The most recognizable change in meter occurs in the middle of the song before the scream where the upbeat is emphasized on "it's just too little, too late", which could be considered one bar of 3/8 (it's just too) and 5/8 (little too late). As far as vocal range the song expands from E3 (what do you expect to me to say/because to you, it's just a game/and now you wanna communicate), to several C#5's at the chorus, two F#5's after the bridge, all in full voice. In head voice a few C#6's and an E6 at the end of the song, totalizing 3 octaves of vocal range.