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about

Written with help from my mother, a serious tea drinker with an English mother too.

lyrics

As my mother slipped into dementia she asked me to write this song about her

Mother’s Tea (Me Dear Old English Mother )

1. On my first day of grade school
The whole class laughed at me
For I arrive at half past nine
And not so fashionably
My teacher led me by the ear
Down to the principal
I had to give accounting
For I had no note at all
(so here is what I said..)
Chorus:
It Twas my dear old English mother and her tea
Well, first she pours some milk in
A spoon or two of sugar
“a spoon or three of sugar…”
“a spoon or four of sugar…”
“and a canister of sugar…”
Then a tiny taste determines temperature
And if I’ve let it steep too long
The tea is way to strong
Then I have to start again
And do it over
2. On the first day of high school
Well, I was way too late
And a teacher caught me in the hall
And she left no debate
She had made it very clear
That tardiness was bad
So I blubbered and I stammered
And this is what I said…
3. Oh the first month of college
My papers were quite late
My advisor sat to counsel me
And then discuss my fate
And he asked me for a reason
I work improperly
I looked at him sincerely
And answered honestly….
4. On the first day at Starbucks
My bus was very late
My old alarm had failed me
My pants ripped on the gate
And the boss who met me at the door
Just pointed at the line
Where the customers all frowned at me
As I began to chime…
5. On the first day of marriage
I jumped out of bed quite late
I forgot to make the latte’, two shots, sugar free vanilla, Grande for my mate….
And she asked me quite directly
Why my snoozing was so great
(I answered)
I dreamt that I was making tea
And then I had to do it over
I dreamt that I was making tea
And then I had to start again
I dreamt that I was making tea
for dear old mother!

credits

from Family History, released March 9, 2023
Songwriter: J.W. McClure, lead vocal; Harmonies: Kristi and Steve Nebel and Thaddeus Spae

license

all rights reserved

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J.W. McClure Seattle, Washington

J.W. McClure lives in Stanwood, Washington. This is a career restarted for me. In the 1970’s I was often an opening act at the Washington D.C. clubs, The Cellar Door and The Childe Harold for Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk, Tom Rush and many well known bands. In the 1980’s I returned to Washington to do folk music, satire and stand-up comedy before getting swamped by family and other work. ... more

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