Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, to Elvera Sanchez, a dancer, and Sammy Davis, Sr., an African-American entertainer. The couple were both dancers in vaudeville. As an infant, he was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. His father, not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on tour. Sammy Davis Jr. claimed that his mother was Puerto Rican, however the 2003 biography In Black and White alleges that he made this claim due to the political sensitivities of the 1960s (during the Cuban Missile Crisis), and that his mother was born in New York of Cuban descent rather than in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
As a child he learned how to dance from his father, Sammy Davis, Sr., and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for. Davis joined the act as a young child in 1928 and they became the Will Mastin Trio. Throughout his long career, Davis included the Will Mastin Trio in his billing.
Mastin and his father had shielded him from racism. Snubs were explained as jealousy. But during World War II, Davis served in the United States Army, where he was first confronted by strong racial prejudice. As he said later, "Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color anymore. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will. I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open.
Baretta's Theme
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time - Yeah, don't do it.
And keep your eye on the sparrow.
When the going gets narrow.
Don't do it, don't do it.
Where can I go where the cold winds don't blow,
Now. Well, well, well.
The lyrics of Sammy Davis Jr.'s song "Baretta's Theme" carry a powerful message that still resonates today. The first two lines warn against engaging in illegal and morally questionable activities, reminding listeners that they will ultimately pay the price for their actions. The phrase "don't do the crime, if you can't do the time" reinforces this message, emphasizing that the consequences of criminal behavior are severe and long-lasting.
The final two lines of the song are perhaps the most thought-provoking. By urging listeners to "keep your eye on the sparrow" and to persevere "when the going gets narrow," the lyrics encourage individuals to remain focused and strong, even in the face of adversity. This is an important message that can inspire individuals to remain steadfast in the pursuit of their goals, even when things become difficult.
Overall, Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Baretta's Theme" contains lyrics that are not only relevant today, but also timeless. The song's message encourages individuals to avoid crime and to remain focused on their goals, no matter what obstacles may come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't go to bed, with no price on your head
Don't engage in any activity that can put you in trouble
Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time
Avoid getting involved in criminal activities if you can't handle the repercussions that come with it.
And keep your eye on the sparrow.
Stay vigilant and alert as you go through life.
When the going gets narrow.
When things get difficult or tough, be sharp and think on your feet.
Where can I go where the cold winds don't blow,
Where is the place where I can feel relaxed and free from stress?
Now. Well, well, well.
This is a sign of exhaustion from trying to find a way out of a difficult problem.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID GRUSIN, MORGAN AMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scoremxcom
Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I've gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am
I want to live, not merely survive
And I won't give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am
That far away prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won't settle down, won't settle for less
As long as there's a chance that I can have it all
I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I've gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I've gotta be me
I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I just gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I gotta be me
@SquireHoggOfficial
One of the greatest tv theme songs of all time.
@kentclark6420
starsky and hutch, too.
@outonthetiles
Barney B Jones too.
@annemarie7254
Hawaii 5-0, too! 🙂
@SquireHoggOfficial
I also like my version of Taxi theme song "Angela" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAOuyNRV_oU
@fezenstein
You sir are correct
@quickdubbs328
When black, is sweet, it can't be beat!! Till this video, I did not know this was Sammy Davis Jr, all the time. Timeless!!!!
@lisalove9204
Quick Dubbs absolutely
@Blowtorch1964
I honestly had NO idea this was Sammy Davis Jr.! One of many great 70s TV theme songs. I think I'll listen to it again.
@PatrickRyan150
@@williama.6197
I think that was Jose Feliciano