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.
Earthbound
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Til I looked into your eyes
I found my heart was Earthbound
Til you took it to the skies
I felt your arms around me
And I was safe and warm in your embrace
Were gone and I was soaring into space
I thought happiness missed me
But you changed my world around
Yes, I was Earthbound
Until you first kissed me
And then in your arms
I became Heavenbound
(I thought happiness missed me
But you changed my world around)
Yes, I was Earthbound
Until you first kissed me
And then in your arms
I became Heavenbound
The song Earthbound by Sammy Davis Jr. is a romantic ballad about the transformative powers of love. The lyrics detail the singer's journey from being stuck on the ground, or "Earthbound," to soaring to new heights, or becoming "Heavenbound," through the love of another person. The singer describes how he was unable to experience true happiness and joy until he met his significant other. Only then was he able to break free from the chains that were holding him down and experience the fullness of love.
The lyrics are presented in a straightforward manner, showcasing the simplicity of the message. The singer's life was bland and lacking in excitement, and he was unable to break free from his daily routines until the moment he was able to look into the eyes of his partner. Their love helped him to break free from the chains that had been holding him down and provided him with the wings to soar. The lyrics are filled with metaphorical language and poetic imagery, which allows the listener to engage with the song on a deeper level.
Overall, Earthbound is a beautiful and romantic song that speaks to the transformative power of love. It is a song that encourages listeners to take a chance on love and to experience the fullness of life that only comes from being truly happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Earthbound, my heart was Earthbound
I felt trapped and grounded in my life, unable to experience true happiness.
Til I looked into your eyes
Until I met you and saw the love and possibilities in your eyes.
I found my heart was Earthbound
I realized that my heart was weighed down and confined, limited by my circumstances.
Til you took it to the skies
But then you showed me a world of freedom and joy, lifting up my heart and expanding my horizons.
I felt your arms around me
I experienced a deep sense of safety and comfort in your loving embrace.
And I was safe and warm in your embrace
Your love was a soothing balm that eased my troubles and provided me with comfort.
Suddenly, the change that bound me
All of sudden, the changes that kept me down and held me back were removed.
Were gone and I was soaring into space
And as a result, I was able to fly, free from my limitations and able to achieve my dreams.
I thought happiness missed me
I thought that happiness was something that was out of reach for me, that I would never experience it.
But you changed my world around
But then you came into my life and flipped everything upside-down, showing me that happiness was possible.
And then in your arms I became Heavenbound
And with your love and support, I transcended Earthbound limitations and experienced a sense of heavenly bliss.
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pilesovinyl
What a voice, I'm so used to hearing him as an older performer, he had an amazing vocal gift.