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