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One Cup of Sugar in the Tea

from From the Mountains to the Sea by Phillips & Quinn

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about

Emulating his father’s comic story-telling lyrical style, Quinn wrote One Cup of Sugar in the Tea based on the song’s title which was suggested by Amy Phillips.

lyrics

Granny's tea is famous
to everyone in town.
Everyone who drinks it,
drinks the whole glass down.
They say, "Granny, how'd you make it?"
But she won't say, I suppose,
'cause that recipe's top secret,
and only Granny knows
that it's one cup of sugar in the tea,
exactly one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a secret recipe:
One cup of sugar in the tea.

Well it's time for the sweet tea contest
the town holds once a year,
and somehow Granny always loses
to old Mabel McGear.
She says, "Not this year, Mabel!
I smell victory in the air,
and how could your old nasty tea
hope to compare to
one cup of sugar in the tea,
just one cup of sugar in the tea?
It's a secret recipe:
One cup of sugar in the tea."

Well Granny starts a-brewin'
and Grandpa steals a taste,
but he recoils and coughs and gags
'cause the tea tastes just like paste.
He don't know that his taste buds
are old and plum wore out,
so he grabs that can of sugar
and adds just about
oh one cup of sugar in the tea,
just one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a family recipe:
Two cups of sugar in the tea.

Pastor Brown comes a-callin'
to check on Granny's tea.
Granny offers him a glass
but it tastes like horse's pee.
He's too proud to admit that
he's fighting allergies,
so he decides to doctor up
Granny's recipe.
He adds one cup of sugar in the tea,
one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a secret recipe:
Three cups of sugar in the tea.

Granny's seven grandkids
creep in to have a snoop.
Each child is blessed with
and insatiable sweet tooth.
They drink Granny's tea with every meal.
They really like the stuff,
but personally speaking,
it's never sweet enough.
Each adds one cup of sugar in the tea,
one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a family recipe:
Ten cups of sugar in the tea.

Well the contest is upon us,
and the judges take a draught.
Just one sip, their hair stands on end,
their hearts begin to thrash.
Old Mabel McGear drops dead
right there and then.
The judges give Granny the blue ribbon
before she can kill again
with one cup of sugar in the tea,
just one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a family recipe:
One cup of sugar in the tea.

One cup of sugar in the tea,
exactly one cup of sugar in the tea.
It's a secret, family, award-winning recipe.

credits

from From the Mountains to the Sea, released January 17, 2024
Words and Music by Davis Quinn
Derrick Phillips - vocals, 5-string banjo
Davis Quinn - vocals, 8-string guitar

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Davis Quinn image

Davis Quinn Buffalo, New York

Davis Quinn is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and traditional folk enthusiast. He has been performing and recording for over twenty years and lives in Buffalo, NY with his wife and dog.

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