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Tea and Sympathy Lyrics
I don't want to ride the milk train anymore
I'll go to bed at nine, and waken with the dawn.
Lunch at half past noon, dinner prompt at five.
The comfort of a few old friends long past their prime.
(Chorus)
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days long gone.
Let's drink a toast to those who most believe in what they've won.
It's a long long time till morning, plays wasted on the dawn.
I'll not write another line, for my true love is gone.
When the guests are done, I'll tidy up the room.
I'll turn the covers down, and gazing at the moon.
I'll pray to go quite mad, and live in long ago.
When you and I were one, so very long ago.
(Chorus)
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days long gone.
Let's drink a toast to those who most believe in what they've won.
It's a long long time till morning, plays wasted on the dawn.
I'll not write another line, for my true love is gone.
When I have no dreams to give you anymore.
I'll light a blazing fire, and wait within the door.
Then throw my life away, "I wonder why?" they all will say.
Now I lay me down to sleep, forever and a day.
(Chorus)
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days are dead.
Let's drink a toast to those who best survived the life they led.
It's a long long time till morning, so build your fires high.
Now I lay me down to sleep, forever by your side.
I'll go to bed at nine, and waken with the dawn.
Lunch at half past noon, dinner prompt at five.
The comfort of a few old friends long past their prime.
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days long gone.
Let's drink a toast to those who most believe in what they've won.
It's a long long time till morning, plays wasted on the dawn.
I'll not write another line, for my true love is gone.
I'll turn the covers down, and gazing at the moon.
I'll pray to go quite mad, and live in long ago.
When you and I were one, so very long ago.
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days long gone.
Let's drink a toast to those who most believe in what they've won.
It's a long long time till morning, plays wasted on the dawn.
I'll not write another line, for my true love is gone.
I'll light a blazing fire, and wait within the door.
Then throw my life away, "I wonder why?" they all will say.
Now I lay me down to sleep, forever and a day.
Pass the tea and sympathy for the good old days are dead.
Let's drink a toast to those who best survived the life they led.
It's a long long time till morning, so build your fires high.
Now I lay me down to sleep, forever by your side.
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I think it is about an elderly lady who has lost her husband of many years. She's trying to deal with it all, comforting herself with a 'few old friends' and 'tea and sympathy' but she finds it too hard to live life without her 'true love' who has been there with her for her entire life, and though the death was recent, it feels like such a 'long long time' since she's been with him. I think that after her friends leave she realises that she's wasting her life 'waiting for the dawn' because her love won't be with her, so she kills herself, in order to be 'forever by his side.' It's a bit morbid, but that's what I think. The song is beautiful either way.
@essenceofcrabbe - I thought your meaning for Janis Ian's Tea and Sympathy 4 long years ago was absolutely spot on!!! Great job, Tom
@essenceofcrabbe - I thought your meaning for Janis Ian's Tea and Sympathy 4 long years ago was absolutely spot on!!! Great job, Tom