Released 31 March 1976
Recorded November-December, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Album Presence
Released 31 March 1976
Recorded November-December, 1975
Genre Blues-rock
Length 9:27
Label Swan Song
Writer Page/Plant
Producer Jimmy Page
Tea for One" is the last track on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1976 album Presence. It begins with mid-tempo interplay between guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer John Bonham before settling into a sotto voce groove. The song evolves into a slow blues epic, featuring lyrics which deal with homesickness and loneliness.
Tea for One
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
Oh, twenty-four hours
Baby sometimes seem to slip into days, yeah
One minute seems like a lifetime
Oh baby, when I feel this way
Sittin' lookin' at the clock
Time moves so slow
Until I just can't look no more
How come twenty four hours
Baby sometimes seems to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime
Baby when I feel this way
To sing a song for you
I recall you used to say
Oh baby this one's for we two
Which in the end is you anyway
How come twenty four hours
Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime
Baby when I feel this way
There was a time that I stood tall
In the eyes of other men
But by my own choice I left you woman
And now I can't get back again
How come twenty-four hours
Sometimes seem to slip into days, yeah
Well, well, well well
A minute seems like a lifetime
Baby when I feel this way
A minute seems like a lifetime
Oh baby, when I feel this way
I feel this way
The song "Tea for One" by Led Zeppelin is about a man who is longing for his lost love. The opening lines of the song, "How come twenty four hours, baby sometimes seem to slip into days?" expresses his longing and the sense of time standing still while he is without her. The repeated line "a minute seems like a lifetime" also emphasizes his impatience to be reunited with her.
The second verse mentions the idea of singing a song for her. The line "this one's for we two, which in the end is you anyway" suggests that despite his attempts to move on and sing about someone else, he can't help but think of her. The third verse reveals that the reason for their separation was his own doing, and now he regrets it and can't go back to her.
Line by Line Meaning
How come twenty four hours Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
The singer feels like time is moving slowly and that each day feels like it lasts longer than 24 hours.
Oh, twenty-four hours Baby sometimes seem to slip into days, yeah One minute seems like a lifetime Oh baby, when I feel this way
The singer is emphasizing this feeling of time moving slowly and how even one minute can feel like an incredibly long time.
Sittin' lookin' at the clock Time moves so slow I've been watchin' for the hands to move Until I just can't look no more
The singer is so fixated on how slowly time is moving that he is watching the clock and waiting for the hands to move, even though he knows they won't move any faster.
To sing a song for you I recall you used to say Oh baby this one's for we two Which in the end is you anyway
The artist is singing a song for someone he used to be close to, and remembers when they would say how the song was for both of them, though in reality, the person the song is for is really just the artist himself.
There was a time that I stood tall In the eyes of other men But by my own choice I left you woman And now I can't get back again
The artist used to feel confident and respected by others, but he made the choice to leave this woman and now he regrets it and can't seem to find his way back to her.
A minute seems like a lifetime Baby when I feel this way
The singer emphasizes again how one minute can feel like an incredibly long time when he is feeling this way.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glory Cej
It was the times we were living in.
The freedom.
The war.
Marijuana.
LSD.
Sexual freedom ( birth control)
We were liberated to think outside of the box. It was a time in history that really changed the world.
Peace.Love. Music.
Make Love.
Not War.
Half a million strong and they lived and partied for 3 days.
Life happened but nobody went psycho and shot anyone or stabbed anyone ...
That could never happen in this era.
Kids aren't even safe at school or the mall
Anyhow....đŠđžđŠđ
Waldemar Polewacz
Jak moĆŒliwe, by doba
Czasami, MiĆa, caĆe dni trwaĆa?
Tak, zaledwie doba,
Czasem, MiĆa, bez koĆca siÄ zdaĆa.
Minuta, co trwa caĆe ĆŒycie,
TwojÄ miĆoĆÄ tak czujÄ.
SiedzÄ, zerkajÄ c na zegar,
Czas w bezruchu trwa.
ĆledzÄ powolny ruch wskazĂłwek,
A Ciebie wciÄ ĆŒ tu nie ma.
Jak moĆŒliwe, by doba
Czasami, MiĆa, caĆe dni trwaĆa?
Minuta, co trwa caĆe ĆŒycie,
TwÄ miĆoĆÄ mi zabraĆa.
Ćpiewam dla Ciebie pieĆĆ,
W pamiÄci Twe sĆowa majÄ c:
âMiĆy, te chwile sÄ naszeâ,
One w Tobie i we mnie trwajÄ .
Jak moĆŒliwe, by doba
Czasami, MiĆa, caĆe dni trwaĆa?
Minuta, co trwa caĆe ĆŒycie,
TwÄ miĆoĆÄ mi zabraĆa.
ByĆ czas, ĆŒe byĆem twardzielem
W oczach innych facetĂłw.
I zĆa przyszĆa mi myĆl,
By CiÄ porzuciÄ.
Teraz nie umiem juĆŒ wrĂłciÄ.
Jak moĆŒliwe, by doba
Czasami, MiĆa, caĆe dni trwaĆa?
Minuta, co trwa caĆe ĆŒycie,
TwÄ miĆoĆÄ mi zabraĆa.
Minuta, co trwa caĆe ĆŒycie,
TwÄ miĆoĆÄ, tak czujÄ⊠juĆŒ zabraĆa. AS.
Samson Bandy
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days?
Oh twenty-four hours, Baby sometimes seem to slip into days
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way
Sittin, lookin at the clock, time moves so slow
I've been watchin for the hands to move
Until I just can't look no more
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes seems to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way.
To sing a song for you, I recall you used to say
"Oh baby this one's for we two", Which in the end is you anyway
How come twenty four hours, Baby sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, baby when I feel this way.
There was a time that I stood tall, In the eyes of other men
But by my own choice I left you woman, And now I can't get back again
How come twenty-four hours, sometimes slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime, Baby when I feel this way
A minute seems like a lifetime
When I feel this way...I feel this way
A New Song Psalm 33:3
"Tea For One"
How come twenty-four hours
Baby, sometimes seem to slip into days?
Oh, twenty-four hours
Baby, sometimes seem to slip into days, yeah?
A minute seems like a lifetime
Oh, baby, when I feel this way
Sitting, looking at the clock
Oh, time moves so slow
I've been watching for the hands to move
Until I just can't look no more
How come twenty-four hours
Baby, sometimes seems to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime
Baby, when I feel this way
To sing a song for you
I recall you used to say
"Oh, baby, this one's for we two"
Which in the end is you anyway
How come twenty-four hours
Baby, sometimes seem to slip into days?
A minute seems like a lifetime
Oh, baby, when I feel this way
There was a time that I stood tall
In the eyes of other men
But by my own choice I left you, woman
And now I can't get back again
How come twenty-four hours
Sometimes seem to slip into days?
Well, well, well a minute seems like a lifetime
Baby, when I feel this way
A minute seems like a lifetime
Oh, baby, when I feel this way
I feel this way
A New Song Psalm 33:3
John 15:18Â If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Ephesians 4:15 âBut speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:â
Hosea 6:2 âAfter two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.â
Psalms 86:13 âFor great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.â
blessings fam...
Mike Mjb
Itâs a shame that intro riff was not made into its own song, itâs that good
PenguinAmbassador
The absolute power of zep, so many songs have this aspect where just a snippet could be expanded into a whole tune
bpr1717
It is itâs own somg. The somg is called Tea For One by Led Zepppelin
Senzuri-Champion
The intro was amazing, but then it slips into âSince Iâve been loving youâ
Moonbot168
Agreed
Little Shrimp
@Senzuri-Champion ikr!
Stoned Meadow Of Doom
Presence is an extremely underappreciated album. This song is such a masterpiece. There's at least 2 other classics on it as well
Gabriel
Most LZ albums are stacked with classics. They very fact that Presence only has say 3 (track 1,2 and this one), puts it fairly where it belongs. As a great album but not underrated. Its rated fairly. A lot of the songs are just OK.
Gabriel
Oh I forgot, Im on You Tube, where every song you click on has someone saying how "underrated" it is... nevermind.
Tobiasisback
I agree that Presence isnât their finest hour, Achilles and this are the standouts, but too many fillers. Plant's voice sounds a bit frail too after the car crash, not quite the same punch and range as before.