Tea for Two
Count Basie Oscar Peterson Lyrics

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Picture you upon my knee
Just tea for two
And two for tea
Just 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, dear
That we own a telephone, dear

Day will break and you'll awake
And start to bake a sugar cake
For me to take for all the boys to see
We will raise a family

A boy for you, a girl for me
Oh, can't you see how happy we would be

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Count Basie Oscar Peterson's song Tea For Two project a romantic scene in which the singer imagines himself sitting with his lover, sipping tea. The scene feels intimate and restricted to just the two of them. There are no friends, family, or acquaintances around to observe or overhear them. In fact, even the existence of a telephone is a secret to be kept from the world outside the tea room. The singer imagines a future with his lover, where he will awake to find her baking a sugar cake for him. They will build a family together, with a son for her and a daughter for him. It is a simple dream but one filled with happiness and contentment.

Line by Line Meaning

Picture you upon my knee
Imagine you sitting on my lap

Just tea for two
Only two of us having tea

And two for tea
There are enough cups for both of us

Just me for you
I am here for you

And you for me alone
You are only with me

Nobody near us to see us or hear us
There is no one around to observe us or listen to us

No friends or relations
We are completely alone

On weekend vacations
We will go on trips on weekends

We won't have it known, dear
We will keep it a secret, dear

That we own a telephone, dear
We do not want anyone to know that we own a phone, dear

Day will break and you'll awake
Morning will come and you will wake up