Julie Andrews got her big break when her stepfather introduced her to Val Parnell, whose Moss Empires controlled prominent venues in London. Andrews made her professional solo debut at the London Hippodrome singing the difficult aria "Je Suis Titania" from Mignon as part of a musical revue called "Starlight Roof" on 22 October 1947.
Andrews gained fame at a young age in 1950s Britain by acting and singing on light entertainment radio programmes such as "Educating Archie". She rose to international prominence after starring in Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as musical films like Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).
Andrews had a major revival of her film career in the 2000s, in children's films such as The Princess Diaries (2001), its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), and the Shrek animated films (2004-2007). In 2005, Andrews made her debut as a stage director with a revival of The Boy Friend, in which she also made her Broadway acting debut in 1954.
She was married with Blake Edwards in 1965 until his death in 2010.
Tea for Two
Julie Andrews Lyrics
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So I have invented my own
Darling this place is a lover's oasis
Where life's weary chases' unknown
Far from the cry of the city
Where flowers pretty, caress the streams
Cozy to hide in, to live side by side in
Picture me upon your 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
That we own a telephone, dear
Day will break and I'll awake
And start to bake a sugar cake
For you to take for all the boys to see...
We will raise a family
A girl for you and a boy for me
Can't you see how happy we would be...
Mmm, we will raise a family
A girl for you and a boy for me
Oh can't you see how happy we would be...
The first verse of Julie Andrews's song "Tea For Two" expresses the singer's discontent with living in rented homes and her determination to create a lover's oasis of her own. She describes this place as a cozy hideaway where she and her lover can live side by side and be free from the noise and distractions of the city. The lyrics also suggest that the singer dreams of this place but yearns for it to become a reality.
The second verse imagines a romantic tea-time where just the two of them can enjoy each other's company without anyone else around to see or hear them. The singer also describes a desire to keep their personal life private and secret, even going so far as to say that they won't have a telephone so that no one can reach them. The final few lines of the song present a vision of a happy future together, with the couple raising a family and living happily ever after.
The overall meaning of the song is one of yearning for a simple, romantic life with a loved one. It speaks to the desire for privacy and intimacy in a world where it can sometimes feel like there is no space or time for these things. The nostalgic quality of the lyrics also evokes a sense of longing for a simpler time when life seemed easier and more straightforward.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm discontented with homes that are rented
I am unsatisfied with temporary living spaces
So I have invented my own
Therefore, I have created my own sanctuary
Darling this place is a lover's oasis
Beloved, this dwelling is a romantic sanctuary
Where life's weary chases' unknown
Its essence provides an escape from the stressors of life
Far from the cry of the city
This retreat is remote from the clamor of society
Where flowers pretty, caress the streams
A picturesque location adorned with captivating natural elements
Cozy to hide in, to live side by side in
A snug abode, conducive to intimacy and cohabitation
Don't let it abide in my dreams
Do not let the vision of this heaven reside solely in my imagination
Picture me upon your knee
Visualize me seated upon your lap
Just tea for two and two for tea
Simply enjoying a warm beverage together
Just me for you and you for me alone
Only us two; exclusively committed to each other
Nobody near us to see us or hear us
No individuals present to spectate or eavesdrop
No friends or relations on weekend vacations
No acquaintances or family members interrupting our time together
We won't have it known
We will keep this rendezvous and our secluded location undisclosed
That we own a telephone, dear
Not even disclosing that we have a phone in our idyllic hideaway
Day will break and I'll awake
The morning will arrive and I will awaken
And start to bake a sugar cake
Beginning efforts to bake a sweet dessert
For you to take for all the boys to see...
For you to proudly display to your male peers
We will raise a family
Together, we will nurture and rear offspring
A girl for you and a boy for me
A son to father and a daughter to mother
Can't you see how happy we would be...
Perceiving the joy and contentment our household will produce
Mmm, we will raise a family
Reiterating our aspirations to cultivate our own kin
Oh can't you see how happy we would be...
Imagine the blissful state we will all occupy
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRVING CAESAR, VINCENT YOUMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind