The Tea Dance

Written: 2003
Released: 2005 on 'Mr Jeays'



Welcome to the tea dance
Old debutants getting up on their toes
Darjeeling and romance
Between potted plants and yesterday's dynamos
In the tea rooms the men and women of industry
Dancing from dusk till dawn
In the old days when the first teenager was born
Everyone just stay cool
You're not here to play the fool
They said
But instead
While we slept they tripped the Light Fantastic
They told us to be strong
It wouldn't last for long
Soon you'll be twenty one
Then you can join us
And while manhood's approaching
You'll want to look provoking
Why not take up smoking
They said we'd look cool but we just got cancer

Welcome to the tea dance
Old debutants getting up on their toes
Darjeeling and romance
Between potted plants and yesterday's Romeos
In the tea rooms the men and women of politics
Dancing from dusk till dawn
In the old days when the anti war march was born
Everyone just stay calm
We'll keep you safe from harm
They said
But instead
While we slept they danced the military two step
They told us to be strong
It wouldn't last for long
Put your sunglasses on
Wait for the big one
With the bomb there's no more doubting
No more screaming no more shouting
Just one great big family outing
They said we'd be safe but we just got cancer

Welcome to the tea dance
Old debutants getting up on their toes
Darjeeling and romance
Between potted plants and yesterday's gigalos
In the tea rooms the men and women of royalty
Dancing from dusk till dawn

In the old days when the summer of love was born
Everyone keep your head
Wait for your marriage bed
They said
But instead
While we slept they danced while swapping partners
They told us to be strong
It wouldn't last for long
The urge will soon be gone
When you're married
And lone mothers are so taboo
But don't try to lose it will you
Or Pro Life will try to kill you
But who needs them while we've still got cancer

Welcome to the tea dance
Now it's our turn to get up on our toes
Darjeeling and romance
Between potted plants and seventies curios
Now in the tea rooms we're the people of? yesterday
Dancing from dusk till dawn
We talk of old days when our rebellious streak was
born
But these days there's nothing left
You can rebel against
Right
Your future's bright
Now you've got alcopops and Britney Spears


© Philip Jeays 2003

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