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.
Have A Little Talk With Myself
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And that girl who loves me up and said goodbye
My whole world is comin' apart and fallin' in on me
And I guess deep down I know the reason why
Lately I've been livin' for nobody else but me
Lettin' my selfish ego take command
Lately I've been givin' in to pride and vanityAnd I guess I let it get the upper hand
And I think it's just about time to
Have a little talk with myself
Have a little talk with myself
A little private conversation (ooh-ooh)
A little self-examination (ooh-ooh)
A little attitude correction (ooh-ooh)
A little soul-search and inspection (ooh-ooh)
Start headin' in the right direction
Take a little walk
Have a little talk with myself
La bee dee do do do do do do do do
Uh-uh-huh, la bee dee do do na na ni na na
I put importance on the wrong things in this life
And my outlook had a twisted point of view
But all you reap with vanity is a heartache and strife
Without love you just can't make it through
And I think it's just about time to
Have a little talk with myself
A little private conversation (ooh-ooh)
A little self-examination (ooh-ooh)
A little attitude correction (ooh-ooh)
A little soul-search and inspection (ooh-ooh)
Start headin' in the right direction
I mean, analyze it, recognize it
Itemize it, criticize it
Realize it (realize)
Organize it (organize)
Summarize it (summarize)
And ostracize it
Take a little walk, yeah
Have a little talk with myself
La bee dee do do do do do do do do
Uh-uh-huh, la bee dee do do na na ni na na
Have a little talk (ooh-ooh)
Have a little walk (ooh-ooh)
Have a little talk with myself (ooh-ooh)
I gotta, criticize it
I gotta, recognize it
And have a little walk with myself
In "Have A Little Talk With Myself," Sammy Davis Jr. reflects on a period in his life where he feels disconnected from others and is facing personal challenges. He starts by acknowledging that his friends are avoiding him, and a girl he loves has left him. This leads him to realize that his own egotism and selfishness have contributed to his current state of despair. He has been living solely for his own desires, giving in to pride and vanity. Davis Jr. understands that he needs to have a conversation with himself and examine his own attitudes and actions.
The lyrics suggest that Davis Jr. is ready to make a change and head in the right direction. He emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, self-examination, and correcting one's attitude. He wants to analyze, recognize, and criticize his own behavior, fully realizing its negative impact. He believes that by taking a little walk and having a conversation with himself, he can gain clarity and make the necessary changes to improve his outlook on life.
Overall, "Have A Little Talk With Myself" conveys the importance of self-awareness, humility, and introspection in overcoming personal challenges and reestablishing connection with others. It serves as a reminder that self-reflection and self-correction are essential in leading a fulfilling and harmonious life.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately I have noticed all my friends avoidin' me
Recently, I have become aware that my friends are intentionally avoiding me
And that girl who loves me up and said goodbye
Additionally, the girl who used to love me has recently ended our relationship
My whole world is comin' apart and fallin' in on me
As a result, my entire world seems to be crumbling and collapsing around me
And I guess deep down I know the reason why
Deep down, I am aware of the underlying reason for these circumstances
Lately I've been livin' for nobody else but me
Recently, my actions and decisions have been solely focused on my own self-interest
Lettin' my selfish ego take command
I have allowed my selfish ego to take control and guide my choices
Lately I've been givin' in to pride and vanity
I have been surrendering to feelings of excessive pride and vanity
And I guess I let it get the upper hand
Consequently, I allowed these negative traits to overpower and control me
And I think it's just about time to
I believe that now is the appropriate moment to
Have a little talk with myself
Engage in a personal conversation with my own thoughts and feelings
A little private conversation (ooh-ooh)
A confidential dialogue within my own mind
A little self-examination (ooh-ooh)
An introspective analysis of my own behavior and attitudes
A little attitude correction (ooh-ooh)
A small adjustment to my mindset and demeanor
A little soul-search and inspection (ooh-ooh)
A brief period of deep introspection and self-reflection
Start headin' in the right direction
Initiate a journey towards making positive changes and choices
Take a little walk
Embark on a metaphorical journey of self-discovery and growth
La bee dee do do do do do do do do
Nonsense syllables without specific meaning
Uh-uh-huh, la bee dee do do na na ni na na
More nonsense syllables without specific meaning
I put importance on the wrong things in this life
I have given significance to the incorrect aspects of life
And my outlook had a twisted point of view
Furthermore, my perspective has been distorted and misguided
But all you reap with vanity is a heartache and strife
However, pursuing vanity only leads to emotional pain and difficulties
Without love you just can't make it through
It is impossible to overcome life's challenges without the presence of love
I gotta, criticize it
I need to examine and evaluate it critically
I gotta, recognize it
I must acknowledge and identify it
And have a little walk with myself
And engage in a figurative introspective journey with my own thoughts and emotions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ray Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markie909
Willoughby Grove is the reason why I stopped in here, and boy do I really love Sammy Davis Jr's version of this Larry Jon Wilson classic song!
@JesusNeverChanges
Great cover to this song! I'm a big Ray Stevens fan
@ReuvenF
A *THOUSAND* Blessings to whoever posted this!!! I remembered the song "Willoughby Grove" from a L-o-o-o-n-n-g time ago, and have recently been searching for the lyrics. I got them by writing them out longhand while the vid was playing.-- May you always be able to return to YOUR Willoughby Grove.
@gxulien
Now I know why this popped up. I was watching Ray Stevens last weekend. Haven't heard these tunes since I was a kid.
@orangehornet57
I just happened to find out that Sammy covered this song. Ray Stevens' my favorite singer. That's probably the Mike Curb Congregation on backup. Would someone please post Sammy's version of Black and White? It had different lyrics than the Three Dog Night version.