Tea for Two
Earl Hines and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Tony Bennett
(Irving Caesar/Vincent Youmans)
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 love side-by-side in. Don't let it abide in my dreams.
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 have 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 life would be?
You are revealing a plan so appealing I can't help but falling for you,
Darling, I planned it; can't you understand it is yours to command it, so do.
All of your schemes I'm admiring, they're worth desiring but can't you see,
I'd like to wait there for some future date dear;
it won't be too late, dear, for me.
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 have 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 life would be?
The lyrics of Earl Hines and His Orchestra's song Tea for Two, as performed by Tony Bennett in this interpretation, depict a romantic dream of a couple creating their own oasis removed from the noisy city life. The singer of the song is discontented with rented homes and has taken it upon themselves to create a cozy dwelling place where they can love each other without any distractions. The idyllic picture painted in the lyrics is of two people sitting together, enjoying a cup of tea, completely alone and without any external interruptions. They imagine a simple life with just each other, nobody else "to see us or hear us," "no friends or relations on weekend vacations."
The lyrics suggest a desire to keep their love a private affair without any social obligations or the need to inform others with the aid of technology, "we won't have it known, dear, that we have a telephone, dear." The song ends with the hope of raising a family, a boy for the singer's partner and a girl for them, and living happily ever after. However, there is an underlying hint that maybe their dream is too good to be true, as the singer adds that they'd like to wait for some future date, suggesting they are not ready to settle down just yet.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm discontented with homes that are rented so I have invented my own.
I am unhappy with the homes that are rented and therefore created my own place.
Darling this place is a lover's oasis where life's weary chase is unknown.
This place is a paradise for lovers where the fatigue of life is forgotten.
Far from the cry of the city, where flowers pretty caress the streams,
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where beautiful flowers grow near rivers.
Cozy to hide in, to love side-by-side in. Don't let it abide in my dreams.
A place where we can hide and love each other. Hoping it becomes a reality, not just my dream.
Picture you upon my knee, just tea for two and two for tea,
Imagining you sitting on my lap, just having tea for two.
Just me for you and you for me, alone!
It's just you and me alone, without anyone else.
Nobody near us, to see us or hear us,
No one to see or hear us nearby.
No friends or relations on weekend vacations,
We won't have any friends or relatives with us on weekend getaways.
We won't have it known, dear, that we have a telephone, dear.
We don't want anyone to know that we have a telephone.
Day will break and you'll awake and start to bake
The day will dawn, you will wake and start baking.
A sugar cake for me to take for all the boys to see.
Baking a cake for me to take to show off to all of our friends.
We will raise a family, a boy for you, a girl for me,
We will have kids, a boy for you, and a girl for me.
Oh, can't you see how happy life would be?
Can't you see how happy our life would be?
You are revealing a plan so appealing I can't help but falling for you,
Your plan is so attractive that I can't help but fall for you.
Darling, I planned it; can't you understand it is yours to command it, so do.
Sweetheart, I came up with this plan, but it belongs to you, so take charge and make it happen.
All of your schemes I'm admiring, they're worth desiring but can't you see,
I'm impressed with all of your plans, and they are worth pursuing, but can't you see,
I'd like to wait there for some future date dear;
I want to wait there for some date in the future, dear.
It won't be too late, dear, for me.
It won't be too late for me, dear.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING CAESAR, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SELMER B.Action
The most incredible and crazy version of tea for two I've ever heard... Genius
Hugo Mazariegos
Bella música que nunca pasará de moda!!!... 👍👍
Danali45
I'm more familiar with Art Tatum, but this version charms me as well. A more relaxed tea time, maybe? Larks are flying, it is springtime !
Marco V
As stupendous as the Tatum versions are, I find this one more interesting. By the way, Hines was one of Tatum's primary influences.
pianopera
Jazz is not really my cup of Earl Grey... but to me this sounds as original as Art Teatum's version!
Emma Durovray
anyone knows where I could find a sheet transcription of this song ? thanks a lot
radilja1994
Just because Art Tatum was there in the same era, Earl Hines ended up to be so underrated. But we should never underestimate Earl Hines I think. Art Tatum became very famous as "a monster technician", but Earl Hines was just as perfect as Art Tatum and in many parts, he was even better than Art Tatum. That's my opinion. Many people must agree.
Harry Hamill
I agree. Tatum cited Hines as a major influence on his own playing.
Jacob Zimmermann
Earl Hines was Art Tatum's main inspiration and the similarities between the two are obvious. I think that technically Hines was on par with Tatum - just listen to him, he's every bit as perfect no matter the tempo, his arpeggios are equally bright, his stride just as flawless, his right and left hands just as capable and interchangeable as Tatum's. Tatum was first and foremost a formidable musician, what set him apart was his incredible sense of harmony, phrasing and his ability to find new themes and ideas in well known tunes that no-one thought of before him. Earl Hines' on the other hand was wilder, more unpredictable, more exhiliarating than any jazz pianist before or since.
anthony williams
@Jacob Zimmermann Hello Jacob, I agree with most of your comments regarding Tatum or Hines, but Hines, makes me smile, whistle, and sing, and he has joy beyond measure in his music, whereas Tatum for me is a dry journey through a song, with nothing much more to add than a prodigious technique, but it's what you say that is important not how fast you say it.