Irving Caesar
He penned the words to 'Tea for Two' and 'Swanee,' crafting the carefree soundtrack of 20th-century America.
1895–1996 (age 101)·American composer and lyricist·Birthday: July 4·The Lost Generation
Biography
Irving Caesar was a human jukebox of American optimism. Starting in the Tin Pan Alley days, he had a knack for writing simple, irresistible lyrics that felt instantly familiar. His collaboration with George Gershwin on 'Swanee' launched both of their careers into the stratosphere, but it was his work with Vincent Youmans on 'Tea for Two' that became a true standard, recorded thousands of times. Caesar's words captured a specific, sunny sentiment—a yearning for companionship and easy pleasure that defined the Jazz Age and endured long after. He wrote for Broadway revues and Hollywood films, and his longevity was remarkable; he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972 and remained a vibrant advocate for music rights and education well into his nineties, a living link to a golden era of song.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Irving was born in 1895, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Irving Was Born
The biggest hits of 1895
Irving's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1895Born
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1900Started school
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1908Became a teenager
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Could drive
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could vote
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Turned 21
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Turned 30
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1935Turned 40
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1945Turned 50
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 60
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 70
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 80
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1996Died at 101
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
Key Achievements
- Wrote lyrics for the enduring standard 'Tea for Two,' one of the most recorded songs of all time.
- Co-wrote the smash hit 'Swanee' with George Gershwin, which sold millions of sheet music copies.
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in its second year of existence, 1972.
- Authored numerous songs for Broadway musicals like 'No, No, Nanette' and 'Hit the Deck.'
Did You Know?
He claimed to have written the lyrics to 'Tea for Two' in under five minutes on the back of a menu.
He was a passionate advocate for music copyright and helped found the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
He lived to be 101 years old, witnessing nearly the entire span of 20th-century popular music.
“A good song writer is a poet who knows music.”
