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.
Easy To Love
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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In thinking such a thing could be
That you could ever care for me
I'm sure you hate to hear
That I adore you, dear
But grant me
Just the same
For love
You'd be so easy to love
So easy to idolize
All others above
So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep every home fire burning for
We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together
That it does seem a shame
That you can't see
Your future with me
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love
The lyrics to Sammy Davis Jr.'s song Easy To Love express the singer's feelings of unrequited love. The singer acknowledges that it is a waste of time to think that the person they love could ever feel the same way. They express their admiration for the person and apologize for bothering them with their feelings but cannot help but feel that they are not entirely to blame for loving them.
The rest of the lyrics describe how the person they love would be so easy to love and idolize, with the singer believing that they are worth the yearning for and how they could be carefree and grand together. The singer expresses their sadness that the person cannot see a future with them because they would be 'oh, so easy to love'.
Overall, the lyrics capture the feelings of unrequited love and express the singer's admiration and desire for the person they love while acknowledging that it may never come to fruition.
Line by Line Meaning
I know too well that I'm just wasting precious time
I understand that pursuing you may have its consequences.
In thinking such a thing could be
I had believed that you could have feelings for me.
That you could ever care for me
It is difficult to imagine that you could have any feelings towards me.
I'm sure you hate to hear
I understand that my feelings may cause discomfort for you.
That I adore you, dear
My affections for you are strong and sincere.
But grant me
Please allow me to express my feelings.
Just the same
Despite potential rejection, I would like to express my admiration.
I'm not entirely to blame
I cannot control my feelings, but I am not trying to cause any harm either.
For love
In the name of love,
You'd be so easy to love
You have qualities that make you easy to love and appreciate.
So easy to idolize
I hold you in high esteem and see you as worthy of admiration.
All others above
There is no one I would place ahead of you.
So worth the yearning for
My longing for you feels justified given your admirable qualities.
So swell to keep every home fire burning for
You are someone who would inspire me to keep the passion alive in a relationship.
We'd be so grand at the game
Our union would be outstanding and triumphant.
So carefree together
We would be at ease with one another.
That it does seem a shame
It is unfortunate that you are unable to see us together.
That you can't see
I understand that you do not share my feelings.
Your future with me
You cannot envision a future where we are together.
'Cause you'd be oh, so easy to love
Your endearing qualities would make it easy to love you.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind