All the Tea in China
Chasing Diamonds: A Tale of Fortune and Sacrifice
Lyrics
There was a man with land as far as you could see
Describes a man with extensive land, stretching from Mexico to Carolina.
From Mexico to Carolina
Further emphasizes the vastness of the man's land.
He said leave your life behind and follow me
The man invites someone to abandon their current life and join him, promising satisfaction.
There'll be enough to satisfy you
Assures that there will be abundant material wealth, including diamonds and silk.
Diamonds for your hands
Specifically mentions diamonds as part of the wealth.
And silk beneath your feet
Highlights the luxurious lifestyle with silk beneath one's feet.
Not a care will come to find you
Conveys the idea that there will be no worries or troubles in this new life.
Kings and Queens will surely be your company
Suggests that royalty will be part of the individual's social circle.
You'll have all the tea in China
Repeats the promise of immense wealth, symbolized by having "all the tea in China."
If you find no friends are near
If the person feels lonely, they are advised to hold onto their possessions.
Just hold your treasures dear
Encourages valuing material possessions over emotional connections.
Everything you could ever need
Asserts that everything one could ever need is provided in this new life.
Who needs love when all you find is
Suggests that love is unnecessary, and material wealth is prioritized.
Fallen tears and petty crimes
Describes the negative experiences of love with "fallen tears and petty crimes."
Break your heart and let it bleed
Encourages emotional detachment and allowing one's heart to bleed from heartbreak.
With diamonds on your hands
Repeats the imagery of diamonds on hands and silk beneath feet.
And silk beneath your feet
Connects the material wealth to the promise of fortune in the future.
Tomorrow's fortune will remind you
Highlights the trade-off of giving up love for a guaranteed prosperous future.
You've given up your love for one more guarantee
Repeats the assurance of having "all the tea in China."
You'll have all the tea in China
Reiterates the promise of immense wealth represented by tea in China.
All the rain in Spain
Expands the imagery to include rain in Spain, emphasizing abundance.
All the smoke in California
Adds the imagery of smoke in California, further emphasizing abundance and prosperity.
If you find no friends are near
If loneliness persists, hold onto material possessions.
Just hold your treasures dear
Reiterates the importance of valuing material wealth.
Everything you could ever need
Emphasizes that everything one needs is provided materially.
Who needs love when all you find is
Repeats the idea that love is unnecessary, focusing on material wealth instead.
Fallen tears and petty crimes
Reiterates the negative aspects of love with "fallen tears and petty crimes."
Break your heart and let it bleed
Encourages allowing one's heart to break and bleed from the pain of love.
With diamonds on your hands
Repeats the imagery of diamonds on hands and silk beneath feet.
And silk beneath your feet
Connects the material wealth to the promise of fortune in the future.
Tomorrow's fortune will remind you
Highlights the trade-off of giving up love for a guaranteed prosperous future.
You've given up your love for one more guarantee
Repeats the assurance of having "all the tea in China."
You'll have all the tea in China
Reiterates the promise of immense wealth represented by tea in China.
All the rain in Spain
Expands the imagery to include rain in Spain, emphasizing abundance.
And all the tea in China
Repeats the assurance of having "all the tea in China."
All the smoke in California
Expands the imagery to include smoke in California, further emphasizing abundance and prosperity.
All the tea in China
Concludes by reiterating the promise of immense wealth represented by tea in China.
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