It turns out that The Kinks were keen on tea. Ray Davies wrote the song “Have a Cuppa Tea” in 1971 and preformed it in his band The Kinks… For those of you who are not musically inclined, or just don’t know about The Kinks – perhaps because they were ‘before your time’ – They were one of the most influential and long lived ‘British Invasion’ bands. Their music was powerful and although this worked to their advantage, it also worked to their disadvantage – they were banned from the US in the 1960’s which in my opinion, is fundamentally the reason why they didn’t acquire the same level of popularity as the other top three comparable bands at that time– The Beetles, The Who and The Rolling Stones. At any rate – The Kinks knew how to get their message across. (And obviously someone in the American government didn’t like it – because in 1965 when they were touring, they were not allowed back into the US – (for 4 years ) – for ‘unspecified reasons’.)

Have a Cuppa Tea, has entertaining lyrics about tea, and how it is a miracle cure. “If you feel a bit under the weather, If you feel a little bit peeved… Take Granny’s stand by potion, for any old cough or wheeze…” Davies sings about an old lady who is always brewing a pot of tea… for various reasons. “It’s a cure for hepatitis, it’s a cure for chronic insomnia… It’s a cure for tonsillitis, and for water on the knee.” While I can’t say with conviction that tea is a miracle cure, it is interesting that it has been used as an herbal medicine for many years, by many people and it is interesting that people in the music industry reflected this in their recordings… What I also find intriguing is that it is popping up in more and more studies about curing various ailments, and has been medically proven to combat certain cancers, eczema and other skin disorders. Maybe Granny was right all along?

Another song that Davies wrote, was a more serious tea tune titled “Afternoon Tea” It is a song about a girl named Donna and how they used to have ‘afternoon tea’ together. It is a nostalgic type of tune… Sad, since it seems like she left him… “Tea time still ain’t the same without my Donna, At night I lie awake and dream of Donna, I went to our café one day, They said that Donna walked away…You think she might at least have stayed, To drink her afternoon tea…” He goes on to sing about how he takes afternoon tea every day of the week… he either really likes his tea – or he is waiting alone at the café hoping to get another chance with Donna.

For the full lyrics to “Afternoon Tea” visit: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/kinks/afternoon+tea_20079117.html

For the full lyrics to “Have a Cuppa Tea” visit: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/kinks/have+a+cuppa+tea_20079055.html