TOO LATE

Verse 1
I never needed anybody in my life,
you broke down those walls, said it wasn't right
didn't give my freedom up without a fight
now it's me, who's losing sleep at night

never needed love, never needed you,
walked alone, on my own, just what I do,
'til you came along and took my hand,
now you're letting go I don't understand.

we had such plans, yeah you & me,
now you're saying me you must be free,
tell me why, tell me just what I did wrong,
change your mind before that chance is gone


driving all night in the pouring rain,
I don't know where I'm going,
I ain't stopping, while I'm breathing
and I'm feeling so much pain,
call me, tell me, you believe me,
and tell me it's not too late

C
how can you say you are walking away
when you know how I feel, and you feel the same,
say what you mean, don't mean what you say,
you're leaving me now and you say it's too late.
how can you go when you promised you'd stay,
you said; you'd never leave; now you're leaving again,
tell me you love me, and don't hesitate,
but you're leaving me now, 'cos you say it's too late

verse 2

I never needed anybody in my life,
you broke down those walls, said it wasn't right
never needed love, never needed you,
walked alone, on my own, just what I do.

you came along and took my hand,
now you're letting go I don't understand,
tell me why, tell me just what I did wrong,
change your mind before that chance is gone



C
how can you say you are walking away
when you know how I feel, and you feel the same,
say what you mean, don't mean what you say,
you're leaving me now and you say it's too late
how can you go when you promised you'd stay,
you said; you'd never leave; now you're leaving again,
tell me you love me, and don't hesitate, no, no, no, 
but you're leaving me now, 'cos you say it's too late

fade
you say that you love me, and don't hesitate, no, no, no
but you're leaving me now, 'cos you say it's too late

The Lord Ward MIX 

Written by Paul Van Doodson
Music Graham Turner
Produced & Mixed by Lee Latch Parker

TOO LATE (the LORD WARD mix)

Another song from a facebook live back in April  called I'd Rather Go Blind, and a cover of a Ruby Turner song from 1985. There's some speaking at the beginning of the track as I'd dedicated it to a couple of people who'd requested the song. Just sang live in my office/craft room.

I'd Rather Go Blind Facebook Live 14 April 2022

I wrote the idea for this track when I was 16. I recorded it at 19 in late 1987. I've posted a previous copy which I found when clearing my parents house but it was on an awful cheap computer C15 cassette and was horribly hissy.

I managed to isolate the vocal and put it with a backing track I had (which was on a really good cassette) it's by no means up to todays digital standard, but I now half a fairly decent copy of the first song I ever wrote and recorded. 

This Time (I’m doin' it all for me)

It was only a year ago, that you broke my heart in two,
You didn't depend on me, and I didn't depend on you,
say you want me back again, you want me to return,
You're playing with fire baby, a lesson you're gonna have to learn.

This time I'm doing' it on my own,
This time I'll be my own hero,
This time I'm doing what I have to,
This time I'm doing it without you.
Well I'm sorry that you can't see,
But baby this time, I'm doing it all for me.

You were so selfish, so mean so insincere,
But when I needed you, well, you were never here,
So I've got to say goodbye, be a little stronger,
But if I need to, let me hold onto you that little bit longer.

This time I'm doing' it on my own,
This time I'll be my own hero,
This time I'm doing what I have to,
This time I'm doing it without you.
Well I'm sorry that you can't see,
But baby this time, I'm doing it all for me.

And never for you, anymore

This time I'm doing' it on my own,
This time I'll be my own hero,
This time I'm doing what I have to,
This time I'm doing it without you.
Well I'm sorry that you can't see,
But baby this time, I'm doing it all for me.

(Doodson / Millington)

All Vocals Paul Van Doodson
Keyboards Steve Millington
Guitar Mark "Dicky" Walker

This Time (I’m doin' it all for me) (1987)

An audio track from a facebook live #singyourselfsane session of "Lately". Live from the craft-room.

Instr

Lately

Karaoke Version

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Almighty Dance Version)

The Night

All Cried Out (reimagined)

A brand new track from Paul Van Doodson (PVD). 
Written and produced by Paul Van Doodson
Vocals La Femme 
© Paul Van Doodson WMD Music 2025

I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived.
I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived.

Friday night, I'm sat by the phone,
wondering why I'm sat here alone,
thinking of all the things that you said,
going round and round in my head.
Felt we were perfect, you were so cruel,
so then you cheated and that wasn't cool,
I felt so stupid thinking you'd be true,
so now we're over, baby we're through.

I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived. 
I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived.

Late night, dancing out in a club,
now I don't need you, cos I am enough,
the music is making me come alive,
sad that it's over, but I'll be alright.
So watch me dancing, cos I don't care,
I don't even know that you're there,
stupid to think that I ever loved you,
glad that we're over, finally through.

I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived. 
I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived.

I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived. 
I was a fool to ever believe,
Stupid to hold on, to all my dreams,
I was a fool, thinking you'd never leave,
but I was deceived.

I Was A Fool (to ever believe) - PVD

This is a copy of Song number 2 I did for "Search For A Star" in 1991. Cry Me A River sang A Capella. It's now a better copy than was up here originally, thanks to Al again. I was going to sing "There are Worse Things I Could Do" from Grease A Capella but I chickened and decided on this instead.

Cry Me A River Acapella "Search for a Star" Song 2 (see description)

I went to my friend Dave's today and he bought a music program called Reaper and he asked me to sing something so I chose this as I knew the words, just so he could mess with some recording settings. We only spent and hour and 10 minutes doing it, didn't even warm up my voice! I had fun!  I will be doing more!
Produced by Dave Ward sung by Paul Van Doodson

#SingYourselfSane

Nobodys Diary Yazoo Cover #SingYourselfSane

well, no, no, no baby
I never told you why I left,
decisions I made for the best
no reason I should stay
you didn’t love me anyway,
all those nights you were holdin’ me,
was it where you really wanted to be,
I feel so lost & so confused
and now I find that I’ve been used, oh

chorus
 I’m leaving you, I'm leaving you,
I'm leaving you,
that’s what I'm gonna do
cos there’s no reason why,
I should hold onto you, no
I’m leaving you, I'm leaving you
I'm leaving you,
that’s what I'm gonna do
cos there’s no reason why,
I should hold onto you,
no, I’m leaving you

you thought that I was blind,
out of sight meant out of mind,
you thought I loved you still,
but I never could and I never will,
I'm walking out the door,
I don’t need you anymore,
there’s no use thinking of the past
now I know your love wasn’t meant to last, oh

repeat chorus

yeah, well, no baby, well

repeat chorus to fade

I first wrote the idea of this song when I was about 16, the first of many songs I wrote with Alastair  Anderson Mair.

Music A. Anderson Mair
Lyrics P. Van Doodson
Vocal Paul Van Doodson
Demo Recorded at Mega Records Recording Studio (UK)



leaving you (1990 mix)

every time that you treat me bad
I feel I can’t go on
leave me in tears, make me feel so sad
I'm left here all on my own,
but things are changing
I'm not the boy you really want me to be,
so if you’re leaving there’s a big wide world
waiting for me to see

chorus
so bye bye baby
you know you’re drivin’ me crazy
so bye bye baby..... goodbye

so now you’re gone and it feels so good
cos I'll find someone new,
someone who loves me
makes me feel so sure
that I'll get over you,
so if you want me
if you change your mind
it’s just too late you see,
so bye bye baby
go and pack your bags
and don’t forget to leave your key

chorus x 2
break
chorus to fade

Written & Produced by Steve Millington

bye bye baby (strap on mix 2000)

Written by Roberto Danova / Steve Millington
Vocal Paul Van Doodson
Plaza Records 
© 2002 Quatermass Music Ltd. (London)

Sebastian

you came and you gave us your soul,
from a life that meant nothing at all,
every beat from your heart, was denied from the start,
oh Sebastian
from the time you delivered your grace,
to the suffering and pain on your face,
you were gentle & mild, like an innocent child, oh Sebastian

instr. break

will you ever forgive, all the things that we did, oh Sebastian

instr. break

and there’ll always be, a distinct memory,
of you Sebastian

~ I took a friend Lyn with me to the recording studio http://www.cottagegroup.co.uk/ 
when I recorded the vocal for this song, we were there for about 9 hours & she had
to listen to it over & over & over.
....She hates this song now ...............so I dedicate it to you Miss Hollowell :)


Sebastian

Again this is from a tape so there is quite a lot of hiss on so I apologise! 
I wrote and recorded this for Tracey Elvik when she left her bf Jan & went to start a new life in London, I was there on the platform waiting with her for the 3:35 Train when she said goodbye to him never to return.....


she left the day before yesterday,
packed her suitcase
and she was on her way,
3:35 and she can’t miss the train,
she makes it to the station 
with time to spare, she kisses him
and says I'll call you when I'm there,
he doesn’t know he won’t see her again

she finds it hard to say
what she want’s to say,
finds it hard to do, what she has to do,
oh, oh tracey’s leaving you

she cries a little for old time sake,
but there was only so much she could take,
and as the train arrives
there’s still doubt in her mind,
she calls him up on the telephone
and, says she’s never coming home
she’s leaving, all her past behind

she finds it hard to say
what she want’s to say,
finds it hard to do what she has to do,
oh, but tracey’s leaving you
I know she’s leaving you
and I know, I know, I know she’s leaving you boy,
and I know she’s never coming back to you
and I know she’s never coming back to you

chorus x 2
I know she’s leaving you
chorus to fade

Lyrics / Vocals  Paul Van Doodson
Music / Arrangement / Produced by Steve MIllington
Guitar Mark "Dickie" Walker

Written March 17th 1988

Tracey's Leaving (teeth & tits mix 1988)

you made a promise of a lifetime,
a love that’s guaranteed,
you said you were the only one,
the only one I'd ever need,
you said, you’d stay with me forever,
but you’ve lied to me before,
so I'm finally leaving you,
I'm walking right out of the door

cos promises were all you ever made,
promises were all you ever gave to me,
I believed your every word,
but your lies were all I ever heard,
cos promises were all you ever made,
promises were all you ever gave to me,
I believed your every word,
but your lies were all I ever heard
all I ever heard

you said you loved me and no other,
but that just isn’t true,
did you imagine I was someone else
all those nights I spent with you,
when you called me by someone else’s name,
I couldn’t take any more,
so I’m finally walking away
I, don’t need your promises anymore

repeat chorus

all I ever heard, all I ever

I’m walking right out of the door

repeat chorus

Music A. Anderson Mair
Lyric P. Van Doodson
Vocal P. Van Doodson

.......again this is from a tape so the quality isn't that good 

Promises

ever since I met you baby
there’s been so much love in your eyes
I believe because you said to me
that there’d be no goodbyes,
hold me & touch me, the way you did last night,
I never felt a love that felt so right

chain me up and tie me down
don’t ever set me free,
all I ever want, is you right here with me yeah
well I thought I'd been in love before
now I know that isn’t true
all I ever need is
the love I feel for you, oh baby
no no no no no no darlin’

now that I've found you baby
there’s no going back for me,
I will love you for ever,
for all eternity,
hold me make love with me,
the way you did last night,
I never felt a love that felt so right

repeat chorus

...I'm telling you, well

well I thought I'd been in love before
now I know that isn’t true,
all I ever need is,
the love I feel for you, oh baby,
no no no no no no darlin’

Music A. Anderson Mair
Lyric P. Van Doodson
Vocal Paul Van Doodson

the love I feel for you

Another rough idea for a Hi-NRG song that we wrote for another band called FORCE who were signed to MEGA records (Manchester) 

(I know) This time

Since you been gone
I've been missing you more and more
and I never realised
the feelings I had before
So hold on tight
Never let me go
I love you more, more than you'll ever know

I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
we'll always be together
I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
I will never let you go

Day after day
I've been waiting here for you
You expect me to walk away
but that's something 
I won't do
So hold on tight
Never let me go
I love you more, more than you'll ever know

I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
we'll always be together
I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
I will never let you go

Never let you go


I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
we'll always be together
I know this time
I will never let you go
because this time
you'll be mine forever
Straight from the heart
I will always love you
because this time
I will never let you go

Never let you go, no no no baby

Music A. Anderson Mair
Lyric P. Van Doodson
Vocal Paul Van Doodson


(I Know) This Time

....this was a song which is our own arrangement / interpretation  of the song by the Crying Shames.
Sang in one take, with Ali whispering the "this time ... different ...stay" we had to record this a number of times because I kept laughing as we were sharing a microphone and had to start again from the beginning, I can still hear myself "smile" when singing some of the words.
This is exactly how I sound live, nothing on my voice but a bit of reverb.
The quality again isn't good as it's from a tape, most of the songs contained here with the exception of about 5 or 6 which were recorded in a recording studio were recorded in the bedroom before the advent (and the cheapness) of home studios. 
Please Stay 

if I got on my knees, and I pleaded with you
not to go but to stay in my arms,
would you walk, out the door,
like you did once before

this time, be different, please stay, don’t go
this time, be different, please stay

if I call out your name like a prayer,
would you leave me alone in my fear,
knowing I need you so,
would you still turn and go

this time, be different, please stay, don’t go
this time, be different, please stay

I loved you before I even knew your name,
and I wanted to give you my heart,
but now you came back
after leaving me one time,
oh I knew, oh how I knew
that the heartaches would stop

(stop)

if I call out your name like a song,
which was written for you, you alone,
would you still hurt my pride,
baby, yeah til I cried

this time, be different, please stay, don’t go
this time, be different, please stay, don't go


this time, be different, please stay, don’t go
this time, be different, please stay, don't go
repeat

Music / Lyric Bacharach / Hilliard
Arrangement  A. Anderson Mair

Please Stay  Crying Shames Cover

Hi my name is Paul Van Doodson, thanks for taking this time to visit my profile.
I've always loved music from a very early age, I've always written. A couple of the songs were recorded in a studio the rest (mostly) with Alastair Mair were recorded in one take, in a bedroom with a keyboard, guitar pedal for reverb on my voice and a tape deck ....that's it, any mistake with the vocal and we had to do it all again from the start. No tricks or vocal enhancement, the 3 with Vinny Purnell were again recorded in a bedroom but with a 4 track machine, but all apart from a couple are from tape/cassettes so the quality isn't that great.
Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed writing & singing them, most are very personal to me that I have included on here for one reason or another, I hope you can find the meaning intended and they stir something within yourself. I would love to hear feedback from the tracks and welcome any comments. 

My debut single I CAN'T GO TO HELL 🔥 being released 2026 

Paul Van Doodson

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks