I was watching TV late last night 
And a scene transported me 
Long gone figures came back to life 
In a documentary 
Though I saw them dance for joy 
I was sad I missed that show 
If I had a time machine 
I know just where I'd go 

I was born too late to see Josephine Baker 
Dancing in a Paris cabaret 
Born too late to see Josephine Baker 
She must have been great in her heyday 

Now some they stand out from a crowd 
Even at an early age 
I suppose that her call was loud 
'Cause she just lit up the stage 
You can put on all that gloss 
And still not have to feel 
What's inside will come across 
And only real is real 

I was born too late to see Josephine Baker 
Dancing in a Paris cabaret 
Born too late to see Josephine Baker 
She must have been great in her heyday 

I'm sometimes trapped by the close confines 
Of the age I'm born into 
Though there were others worse than mine 
Well, I miss what I can't do 
Join the feast of Ancient Greece 
See Alexander's Library 
Maybe clink a champagne toast 
With a jazz age dancing queen 

I was born too late to see Josephine Baker 
Dancing in a Paris cabaret 
Born too late to see Josephine Baker 
She must have been great in her heyday 
In black and white film you can't mistake her 
She must have been great in her heyday