Caesar, the son of Morris Keiser, a Romanian Jew, was born Isidor Keiser. His older brother Arthur Caesar was a successful Hollywood screenwriter. The Caesar brothers spent their childhood and teen years in Yorkville, the same Manhattan neighborhood where the Marx Brothers were raised. Caesar knew the Marx Brothers during his childhood.
Tea For Two
Irving Caesar Lyrics
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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
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?
The opening lines of Irving Caesar's song "Tea for Two" conjure an image that is both nostalgic and romantic. As the singer imagines his lover sitting upon his knee, the lyrics suggest a sense of intimacy and comfort. The idea of sharing a cup of tea – a time-honored social ritual – is the perfect metaphor for this sentiment. And as the verse continues, the image evolves to include the idea of a private world, one in which there is nobody around to intrude upon their happiness. The use of the word "dear" adds to this sense of closeness, as if the singer and his partner share an unbreakable bond.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is envisioning a future with this person. The lyrics suggest that the two of them will live a simple life, free from the intrusions of outsiders. They don't even want anyone to know that they own a telephone – a piece of technology that, in 1925 when the song was written, was still something of a luxury item. The simple pleasures of life – tea, cake, and a loving partner – are all they need.
The final lines of the song bring the image of this idyllic future into sharp focus. The singer imagines that he and his lover will raise a family together, with a son for her and a daughter for him. It's a classic vision of domestic bliss, one that is still celebrated in popular culture today. "Tea for Two" is a reminder that sometimes the most profound moments of joy can be found in the small things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Picture you upon my knee,
Imagine us sitting together so you can visualize this scenario.
Just tea for two and two for tea,
We'll enjoy just two cups of tea as there are only the two of us.
Just me for you
We're meant for each other, and no one else can come between us.
And you for me alone.
You are meant for me, and I belong to you alone.
Nobody near us
There will be no disturbance for us to have a tranquil moment.
To see us or hear us,
No one will be around to interrupt us, and we will have complete privacy.
No friends or relations
We don't need anyone else's presence to feel complete in each other's company.
On weekend vacations.
Even when we go on holiday, we don't require anyone else's company to feel happy.
We won't have it known, dear,
Our private telephone conversations will be kept a secret.
That we own a telephone, dear;
Our conversations will be a private affair, and no one will be aware of the telephone we possess.
Day will break and you'll awake
Morning will come, and you will awaken.
And start to bake a sugar cake,
You'll begin baking a delicious cake made with lots of sugar.
For me to take
I will have that cake once it's ready.
For all the boys to see.
I will show that cake off to everyone, and they will be envious of the sweet delights that await us.
We will raise a family,
We will build a family together.
A boy for you, a girl for me.
We'll have a son and a daughter to complete our family.
Oh, can't you see
Isn't it obvious?
How happy we would be?
We'll be over the moon with joy upon building our family together.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING CAESAR, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind