Jane Monheit (born November 3, 1977) is considered to be one of the most pr… Read Full Bio ↴Jane Monheit (born November 3, 1977) is considered to be one of the most promising American jazz vocalists of her generation.

Born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island, Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. In 1999, she received her Bachelor's degree in music.

Monheit's voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Songs she has recorded range from jazz standards to MGM/RKO musicals of the 1930s-1950s and Brazilian rhythms such as "Começar de novo".

Monheit released her debut album, Never Never Land in October 2000 and it became an instant success. This was followed shortly by her second album, Come Dream With Me (May 2001) and her third, In The Sun (October 2002).

Her fourth album, Live at the Rainbow Room, was released in December 2003. A similarly-titled DVD was released to complement the CD.

Her fifth album, Taking a Chance on Love, was released in September 2004. It debuted at the #1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. The album included the song Over the Rainbow, which had been included in her previous release recorded at the Rainbow Room, and also in the soundtrack for the film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.

The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. Monheit released her sixth album, The Season, in October 2005. Her first holiday-themed album, it debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com that it was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.

The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records. Her most recent album, Surrender, debuted at #1 on Billboard's jazz chart.

Tea for Two
Jane Monheit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 song "Tea For Two" by Jane Monheit is a romantic song that portrays a couple's desire for privacy and isolation in their companionship. The lyrics describe the pleasure of being alone, enjoying a cup of tea with just the two of them. The couple wants to keep themselves away from the prying eyes of society and their close ones. The lyrics depict a sense of intimacy between them, as the song talks about how they don't need anyone else's company but each other's.

Furthermore, the lyrics mention the idea of baking a sugar cake for the boys to see, portraying the image of a perfect happy family with a boy and a girl. The couple is confident in their love, and they imagine a future where they live together, away from anyone else's interference. The song showcases the sentiment that true love is enough to live for and how even the smallest moments of feeling like 'Tea For Two' can turn into a lifetime of happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Picture you upon my knee
Imagining you comfortably on my lap

Just tea for two
We don't need anything fancier than a simple cup of tea

And two for tea
Enough tea for both of us

Just me for you
It's just the two of us, with no one else around

And you for me alone
We're completely dedicated to each other

Nobody near us to see us or hear us
We're alone, with no audience to observe us

No friends or relations
We don't need anyone else to be happy

On weekend vacations
We'll take time off to enjoy each other's company

We won't have it known, dear
We want to keep our love private

That we own a telephone, dear
We don't need to use modern technology to communicate

Day will break and you'll awake
We'll start a new day together