EVERYTHING STOPS FOR TEA
Words and music by Maurice Sigler, Al Goodhart, & Al Hoffman, ©1935.
As sung by Jack Buchanan.

Ev'ry nation in creation has its favorite 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 fact'ries may be roaring
With a "boom-a-lacka, zoom-a-lacka, whee!"
But there isn't any roar
When the clocks strike four.
Ev'rything 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 clocks strike four.
Ev'rything stops for tea.

It's a very good English custom,
Though the weather be cold or hot:
When you need a little pickup,
You'll find a little teacup
Will always hit the spot.

You remember Cleopatra
Had a date to meet Marc Antony at three.
When he came an hour late,
She said: "You'll have to wait,
For ev'rything 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 clocks strike four,
Ev'rything stops for tea.

Oh, the golfer may be golfing,
And is just about to make a hole in three,
But it always gets him sore
When the clock yells "fore!"
Ev'rything 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 ev'rything stops for tea.

[The following lines are sung in a different recording by Jack Hylton and His Orchestra:]

Oh, the soldiers may be fighting
In the trenches or a battleship at sea,
But there isn't any war
When the clock strikes four.
Ev'rything stops for tea.