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.
Don't Be A Do-Badder
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do-badder up, do bother to put your foot up.
That ladder that leads you to that place.
Below and every day you lose other you.
Feel sadder you get madder so use the other.
Step ladder you climb the other way.
Scrapping and fighting, scratching and fighting,
Cheating and acting. selfish makes your heart.Like a part of the hardest heart, so selfish.
Take it from me, don't you be a do-badder up,
A do-badder up, a do-badder up, just step up for that.
Step ladder and climb the other way.
(Larry: What the hell does all this nonsense talk mean?)
Sammy Davis Jr's song Don't be a Do-Badder is a message to the listeners to stay away from negative behavior and to focus on positive things in life. The lyrics are about not being selfish, not cheating, not fighting, and not acting badly towards others. The song tells the listener that if they focus on negative behavior, they will end up losing everything, including friends, family, and self-respect. The ladder symbolizes stairs leading to two different directions, and the song encourages the listener to climb up the stairs that lead to positive behavior and a happy life.
The lyrics also suggest that when someone behaves badly towards others, they only end up hurting themselves in the long run. They may feel sadder and madder because of their negative actions, which can lead to further negative behavior. This vicious cycle can lead someone down a dangerous path of self-destruction. The song is a warning against such actions and encourages the listener to make choices that lead to a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it from me, don't be a do-badder up,
Listen to my advice, don't engage in bad behavior.
Do-badder up, do bother to put your foot up.
Don't continue down the wrong path, take a step in the right direction.
That ladder that leads you to that place.
Your actions have consequences that affect where you end up.
Below and every day you lose other you.
Continuing negative actions leads to personal loss and deterioration.
Feel sadder you get madder so use the other.
Feeling sad and angry will only perpetuate bad behavior, try another approach.
Step ladder you climb the other way.
Change your behavior and take steps towards positive growth.
Scrapping and fighting, scratching and fighting,
Engaging in conflict and negative behavior.
Cheating and acting. selfish makes your heart.
Being dishonest and self-centered hardens your heart.
Like a part of the hardest heart, so selfish.
Being selfish can make your heart cold and unfeeling.
Take it from me, don't you be a do-badder up,
Again, take my advice and avoid bad behavior.
A do-badder up, a do-badder up, just step up for that.
Don't continue to be a troublemaker, take steps towards positive change.
Step ladder and climb the other way.
One step at a time, change your behavior for the better.
(Larry: What the hell does all this nonsense talk mean?)
Even if others don't understand, it's important to make positive changes in your life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind