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.
Get Happy
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're heading 'cross the river
Gonna wash our sins in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Ya better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're going to the Promised Land
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Ya better chase your cares away!
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The lyrics to Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Get Happy" are full of religious and optimistic references, urging listeners to let go of their troubles and rejoice in the promise of salvation. The song starts with the instruction to "pack up your troubles" and "chase all your cares away," followed by a call to sing "Hallelujah" and prepare for Judgment Day. The singer describes a bright future where the sun is shining and the Lord is waiting to take our hand, leading us to the Promised Land across the river where we can wash away our sins and find peace.
The song's lyrics draw on themes of hope, redemption, and deliverance, evoking the language and imagery of gospel music. The message is one of overcoming hardship and embracing a brighter future, which can be seen as a reflection of the post-war optimism that was prevalent in American culture at the time of the song's release.
Interestingly, "Get Happy" was originally written for the Broadway musical "The Nine-Fifteen Revue" by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1930. The song became a jazz standard and was covered by many artists, including Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole, before Sammy Davis Jr. released his version in 1955. Davis' rendition features a more upbeat and swinging arrangement, with his signature scatting and energetic vocals adding to the song's joyous tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Pack up your troubles and just get happy
Leave your problems behind and focus on finding happiness.
Ya better chase all your cares away
You should make an effort to remove all concerns from your mind.
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Express your gratitude and joy through song.
Get ready for the judgment day
Prepare for the day when your actions and choices will be evaluated.
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The weather is perfect, take advantage of it and let happiness in.
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
God is willing to take you under his protection.
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Be loud and proud with your declarations of joy and delight.
We're going to the Promised Land
We are headed to a place where our dreams come true.
We're heading 'cross the river
We are crossing to the other side to a better place.
Gonna wash our sins in the tide
We will cleanse our troubles in the water.
It's all so peaceful
The lack of a burden is blissful and serene.
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Don't let anything hold you back from finding joy and contentment.
Ya better chase all your cares away
Make an effort to let go of all your troubles.
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Sing your praises with delight and exuberance.
Get ready for the judgment day
Prepare for the day when you'll have to look back on your life.
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind