Lyrics question

[The Main Event]

Hey,

we will be recording a new Country/Rock Song, and we have a question about the lyrics. English is not our first language, so we're not sure about that: Can we say "Late the Afternoon", instead of "Late in the afternoon"? It will fit better into the rhythm, but is "Late the Afternoon" correct english, or at least some kind of dialect?

[Prostetnic Jeltz]

You could simply use "late afternoon" together with the preposition "at".

This forms either "at late afternoon" or "late at afternoon" and should mean the same as "late in the afternoon" (although grammar is different).

I'm not a native english speaker, though.

[Doug1978]

Your best option is:
in late afternoon.


You could use any of your suggestions, The Main Event (and Prostetnic Jeltz), but they sound very unusual and would stick out as jarring to many native speakers.

Certainly, I've never heard anyone use the suggestions by either of you, sorry.

Cheers.

[The Main Event]

So, late at afternoon is not a correct english?

In late afternoon is good also, but late at afternoon would fit better.

[Brittlestem]

So, late at afternoon is not a correct english?

In late afternoon is good also, but late at afternoon would fit better.

It's not correct English.

[whyterabbyt]

So, late at afternoon is not a correct english?

No, "late afternoon" would be the useage. 'At' would only really be used with a specific time (at midnight, at ten-past three), whilst afternoon is a time period, and thus something would happen in it.

It would also be "late in the afternoon" unless you somehow dont expect anyone to know which afternoon, in which case 'Late one afternoon' would be acceptable.

If you have already 'set up' what day it is ("we did X in the morning...") then "later that afternoon" might work, although it would actually include the timeperiod of early afternoon.

[xNiMiNx]

Yeah, Late the afternoon doesnt sound proper, but eh, if it fits it fits, screw the grammar nazi's. Its music, not an english educational sing-along right?

Personally (without hearing the music or seeing the rest of the lyrics), i might go with 'In late afternoon', 'Late in afternoon', 'Late afternoon', maybe even 'later afternoon'.

I wouldnt sweat trying to sound proper, you said country/rock, how about for an example:

Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son.

'It aint me' isnt correct english, but if it was 'It isnt me' or 'It is not me', it would be proper, and not sound as good imo.

Make music, not english text books. Good luck with the recording.

[whyterabbyt]

'It aint me' isnt correct english, but if it was 'It isnt me' or 'It is not me', it would be proper, and not sound as good imo.

but it is colloquial english, which has accepted/familiar forms as well. going too far from the accepted forms does start to sound clumsy. Lyrics tend to avoid that clumsiness by stretching/adding vowels ("ear-a-ly one morr-e-ning", to go all finger-in-ear) rather than stretching the form.

[Doug1978]

'Early evening' would be better

[bluedad]

Yeah, Late the afternoon doesnt sound proper, but eh, if it fits it fits, screw the grammar nazi's. Its music, not an english educational sing-along right?

Personally (without hearing the music or seeing the rest of the lyrics), i might go with 'In late afternoon', 'Late in afternoon', 'Late afternoon', maybe even 'later afternoon'.

I wouldnt sweat trying to sound proper, you said country/rock, how about for an example:

Creedence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son.

'It aint me' isnt correct english, but if it was 'It isnt me' or 'It is not me', it would be proper, and not sound as good imo.

Make music, not english text books. Good luck with the recording.

I have to disagree..with your example, while 'ain't' isn't proper, it's slang and widely used enough to sound natural.
'Late the afternoon' doesn't work, sounds unnatural and clumbsy.

[bluedad]

'Early evening' would be better

..or 'in the afternoon' is the specific time that important?

[whyterabbyt]

'Early evening' would be better

..or 'in the afternoon' is the specific time that important?

well maybe. early afternoon, he'll just be having lunch, but by late afternoon, he'll just be thinking about how he can finish up work and get home....

[Doug1978]

Indeed Bluedad.

(Also, there's a lot more that rhymes with 'in the afternoon' / 'in late afternoon' / 'late one afternoon'.
I can't think of any good rhyming words for 'evening'...).

[The Main Event]

Wow, you guys are amazing. Thanks a lot.

[xNiMiNx]

I have to disagree..with your example, while 'ain't' isn't proper, it's slang and widely used enough to sound natural.

Well he asked about correct english, if you think its correct english because its widely accepted, you should tell your kids to use 'it aint' in their english class, and see if the teachers accept it. I see lots of red ink in the future.

'It aint' isnt correct english, reguardless if its widely accepted. But back to my other point, who cares?

In a gadda da vida baby, its all music.