Song Lyric Sunday/Song of the Day: Tin Tin, “Toast And Marmalade For Tea”

Song Lyric Sunday, Song of the Day 1 Minute

Jim gives us the prompt "Apple/Banana/Cherry/Olive/Orange/Strawberry" to work with today, and I wanted to find something (as always) that I don’t think anyone else will come up with. I thought of orange marmalade, and remembered this.

"Toast and Marmalade for Tea" was written by Steve Groves of the band Tin Tin, an Australian-British band. He only had two verses for it, and intended to write more verses and a chorus for it. But before he could, Maurice Gibb, who was their producer, recorded it for their eponymous 1971 album. It was a minor hit, reaching #20 in the US, #11 in Canada and New Zealand, and #10 in Australia.

This is one of those songs that really gets to you. It’s basically two verses, sung over and over, changing keys a couple of times. I looked for the best recording I could find, and ultimately chose this, where the song was combined with scenes from the 2014 movie Paddington. After listening to the song so many times, I felt a little overwhelmed and emotional when I saw it. That’s how I knew I had found it…

The lyrics, from Genius:

Toast and marmalade for tea
Sailing ships upon the sea
Aren’t lovelier that you
Or the games I see you play

You more lovely than the day
When the sun is in your eyes
I see through your disguise
All the games I see you play

And that’s Song Lyric Sunday and Song of the Day for December 13, 2020.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

17 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday/Song of the Day: Tin Tin, “Toast And Marmalade For Tea””

  1. Pingback: ‘Twas The Week That Was Before Christmas (2020 edition) – The Sound of One Hand Typing

    1. It was one of those songs that sneaked onto the charts and fell off before too many people found it. Paddington is a bigger thing in the UK than it is here, but I like the clips.

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  5. Hi John – excellent … it’s exactly what I’d have done too … well done and so appropriate for us in these times. Love Paddington! All the best – Hilary

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    1. You know, I’ve never read the book or seen the movie “Paddington.” I saw they were at Paddington station and figured it out, and I guess I was right. When I read how Paddington loves marmalade, it all fell into place.

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    1. I don’t know if it was actually used in the movie, since I’ve never seen it. Whoever put the video together used scenes from the movie. If they didn’t use it, they missed a golden opportunity.

      Apparently they had planned on adding more verses and a chorus, but you know? That would have ruined it.

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