>Everything Stops for Tea

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I’m constantly trying to fight the American urge to get things done and go until you fall over. One of the things I’m trying to do for myself is take time for “tea” in the afternoon, even if it’s just in a mug while I watch an episode of “House of Elliot”.
Last night I made homemade scones from Nigella’s book “How to be a Domestic Goddess.” They came out perfectly! Matt and I enjoyed them with tea and a pre-code Barbara Stanwyk movie last night. Lucky me has leftovers today, sans whipped cream.
Here are the lyrics to a very fun vintage song, probably more familiar with those in England than with us in the states. A fun little ditty, but it’s become one of my favorite silly songs since I first heard it on a compilation of 30s songs.

EVERYTHING STOPS FOR TEA
Featured in Buchanan’s 1935 comedy film, “Come Out Of The Pantry”
(Goodhart / Hoffman / Sigler)
Jack Buchanan

Every nation in creation has its favourite drink
France is famous for its wine, it’s beer in Germany
Turkey has its coffee and they serve it blacker than ink
Russians go for vodka and England loves its tea

Oh, the factories may be roaring
With a boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, wee
But there isn’t any roar when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

Oh, a lawyer in the courtroom
In the middle of an alimony plea
Has to stop and help ’em pour when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

It’s a very good English custom
Though the weather be cold or hot
When you need a little pick-up, you’ll find a little tea cup
Will always hit the spot

You remember Cleopatra
Had a date to meet Mark Anthony at three
When he came an hour late she said “You’ll have to wait”
For everything stops for tea

Oh, they may be playing football
And the crowd is yelling “Kill the referee!”
But no matter what the score, when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

Oh, the golfer may be golfing
And is just about to make a hole-in-three
But it always gets them sore when the clock yells “four!”
Everything stops for tea

It’s a very good English custom
And a stimulant for the brain
When you feel a little weary, a cup’ll make you cheery
And it’s cheaper than champagne

Now I know just why Franz Schubert
Didn’t finish his unfinished symphony
He might have written more but the clock struck four
And everything stops for tea