Have a Cuppa Tea
Encyclopedia
"Have a Cuppa Tea" is a song written by Ray Davies
and performed by The Kinks
on their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies
.
Like many Kinks songs, it is stylistically influenced by the British Music Hall
. It also has a slight country
influence—with the mesh of these two styles being a hallmark of the album.
The lyrics simply celebrate, in a joyously humorous way, the British custom of drinking tea, and the civility that comes with it. Some absurd claims are made of the drink in a tongue-in-cheek
fashion, such as "It's a cure for tonsilitis and for water on the knee."
Yet the song also wittily observes
The lyrics also feature a clever parody
/homage
to the McGuire Sisters' 1958 hit song "Sugartime
":
Though it was never a single in either the United Kingdom or the United States, it does remain a fan favourite.
The song was covered by Great Big Sea
for their 2010 album Safe Upon the Shore
.
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
and performed by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
on their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies
Muswell Hillbillies
Muswell Hillbillies is the ninth studio album by the English rock group The Kinks, released in November 1971. The album is named after the Muswell Hill area of North London, where band leader Ray Davies and guitarist Dave Davies grew up and the band formed in the early 1960s.The album centred on...
.
Like many Kinks songs, it is stylistically influenced by the British Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
. It also has a slight country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
influence—with the mesh of these two styles being a hallmark of the album.
The lyrics simply celebrate, in a joyously humorous way, the British custom of drinking tea, and the civility that comes with it. Some absurd claims are made of the drink in a tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
fashion, such as "It's a cure for tonsilitis and for water on the knee."
Yet the song also wittily observes
- "Whatever the situation, whatever the race or creed,
- Tea knows no segregation, no class nor pedigree
- It knows no motivation, no sect nor organisation,
- It knows no one religion,
- Nor political belief."
The lyrics also feature a clever parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
/homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to the McGuire Sisters' 1958 hit song "Sugartime
Sugartime
"Sugartime" is a popular song, written by Charlie Phillips and Odis Echols and published in 1958. The biggest hit version was recorded by The McGuire Sisters, who topped the charts with their single in February of that year. In 1961, the song briefly returned to the US Cashbox country charts in a...
":
- "Tea in the morning, tea in the evening, tea at supper time!
- You get tea when it's raining, tea when it's snowing,
- Tea when the weather's fine!"
Though it was never a single in either the United Kingdom or the United States, it does remain a fan favourite.
The song was covered by Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...
for their 2010 album Safe Upon the Shore
Safe Upon the Shore
Safe Upon the Shore is a studio album released by Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea. The album was released on July 13, 2010.-Track listing:Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, and the bonus tracks were road tested before they recorded it in the studio....
.