… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.
Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.
After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.
Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City
Tea For Two
Blossom Dearie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With homes that are rented
So I have invented my own
Darling this place is
A lover's oasis
Where life's weary chase is unknown
Where flowers pretty
Caress the streams
Cozy to hide in
To live side by side in
Don't let it abide in my dreams
Picture me upon your knee
With tea for two
And two for tea
Me for you
And you for me
Alone
Nobody near us
To see us or hear us
No friends or relations
On weekend vacations
We won't have it known
That we own
A telephone
Day will break
And you'll awake
And I will bake
A sugar cake
For you to take
For all the boys to see
We will raise a family
A boy for you and a girl for me
Can't you see
How happy we would be?
In the song “Tea for Two”, Blossom Dearie paints a picture of a place she’s invented, a lover’s oasis, where the bustle of city life is far away and life’s weary chase is foreign. She expresses discontentment with rented homes and has gone ahead to create a little nest for two where nobody near them can see or hear. She sings of a cozy abode that’s perfect for two people to live side by side and daydreams of a future where they will raise a family; a boy for him, and a girl for her. She ends the song by speaking of baking a sugar cake for her lover to take to show off to his friends and how their happy family would be the envy of many.
Dearie uses metaphors and imagery to bring the listener into the world she’s created. She gives a sense that the place she’s talking about is quiet, serene, and picturesque, far from the urban chaos, and perfect for two people to live peacefully, away from the distractions of the city. She speaks of a sugar cake, and a boy and a girl. All these are symbols of happiness, family, and togetherness. The song is a celebration of two people’s love and their dream to be happy together.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm discontented
I'm not satisfied with the current circumstances.
With homes that are rented
I don't like living in rental homes.
So I have invented my own
So I have created my own place to live.
Darling this place is
My love, this place I've created is
A lover's oasis
A romantic paradise
Where life's weary chase is unknown
Where we can escape the tired routine of everyday life.
Far from the cry of the city
Far away from the noise of the city.
Where flowers pretty
Where beautiful flowers
Caress the streams
Gently touch the nearby streams.
Cozy to hide in
A comfortable place to escape to
To live side by side in
Where we can live together happily.
Don't let it abide in my dreams
I want this dream to become a reality.
Picture me upon your knee
Imagine me sitting on your lap
With tea for two
Sharing a pot of tea with you
And two for tea
Enough for both of us to share a cup of tea.
Me for you
I'm for you
And you for me
You're for me.
Alone
Just the two of us together.
Nobody near us
No one around us
To see us or hear us
Who can hear or see us.
No friends or relations
No friends or relatives
On weekend vacations
Or on weekend trips.
We won't have it known
We won't let anyone know
That we own
That we have
A telephone
A phone.
Day will break
When dawn comes
And you'll awake
And when you wake up
And I will bake
I'll bake
A sugar cake
A sweet cake
For you to take
For you to have
For all the boys to see
For everyone to see
We will raise a family
We will start a family
A boy for you and a girl for me
One boy for you and one girl for me
Can't you see
Don't you see
How happy we would be?
How much happiness we could have together?
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jasmine Puspa
[LYRICS]
I'm discontented
With homes that are rented
So I have invented my own
Darling this place is
A lover's oasis
Where life's weary chase is unknown
Far from the cry of the city
Where flowers pretty
Caress the streams
Cozy to hide in,
To live side by side in
Don't let it abide in my dreams
Picture me upon your knee
With tea for two, and two for tea
Me for you, and you for me
Alone
Nobody near us
To see us or hear us
No friends or relations
On weekend vacations
We won't have it known
That we own
A telephone
Day will break
And you'll awake
And I will bake
A sugar cake
For you to take
For all the boys to see
We will raise a family
A boy for you and a girl for me
Can't you see
How happy we would be
Andrew Pacheco
IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG SINCE I WAS 10 AND IVE FINALLY FOUND IT 7 YEARS LATER, I FEEL LIKE IM ONTOP OF THE WORLDDDDDD!!!
Jasmine Puspa
[LYRICS]
I'm discontented
With homes that are rented
So I have invented my own
Darling this place is
A lover's oasis
Where life's weary chase is unknown
Far from the cry of the city
Where flowers pretty
Caress the streams
Cozy to hide in,
To live side by side in
Don't let it abide in my dreams
Picture me upon your knee
With tea for two, and two for tea
Me for you, and you for me
Alone
Nobody near us
To see us or hear us
No friends or relations
On weekend vacations
We won't have it known
That we own
A telephone
Day will break
And you'll awake
And I will bake
A sugar cake
For you to take
For all the boys to see
We will raise a family
A boy for you and a girl for me
Can't you see
How happy we would be
Marcella Detreville
What a beautiful pure sound, total ear candy!
Toast Sandwiches
@V Hamilton it makes me want to wear socks by a fireplace on a cold autumn day
V Hamilton
It makes me want yo visit Paris in the spring
tiffsaver
Allowing the writer's lyrics to shine through... that was Blossom Dearie, one of the greatest American vocalists, ever. They should make a movie about her.
Gary H Horton
This is my favorite love song. It has a timeless quality. Since it was composed by Mr. Yeoman back in 1925 for the Broadway musical "No, No Nanette!", it has probably been sung more often than almost any other love song of the 20th century. I love this beautiful rendition!
Antonio Jiménez
Con Blossom Dearie entramos en otra dimensión. En principio rompemos con el mito, creando otro mito, asociado a las divas del jazz, consistente en que para ser cantante tienes, necesariamente, que ser "mala", y por ahí, no me voy a extender, y por otro lado, damos origen a una nueva forma de hacer las cosas, sin prisas, sin aspavientos innecesarios, sin concesiones, sin estridencias, de una forma dulce, (casi como cantaría un cisne, llegado el caso) educada, amable, sensible sin sensiblerías, cariñosa sin caer en la ñoñez, y aquí nos quedamos. de inalatinbag.blogspot.com Gracias Saludos
Robert Brittenham
Blossom Dearie is awesome! I had the good fortune of seeing her live in NY a few years before she passed. What a night it was. I have never seen any performer more comfortable and personable with their audience. Love her version of this classic.
Napoleon grace Marshall
Lucky you!
I am sorry that I was unable to see her LIVE!