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.
Hey There
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love never made a fool of you, you used to be too wise
Hey there, you on that high flying cloud
Though she won't throw a crumb to you
You think someday she'll come to you
Better forget her, her with her nose in the air
break it and she won't care
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a brother
Or are you not seeing things too clear?
Are you too much in love to hear?
Is it all going in one ear and out the other?
Better forget her, her with her nose in the air
She has you dancing on a string
break it and she won't care
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a brother
Or are you not seeing things too clear?
Are you too much in love to hear?
Is it all going in one ear and out the other?
The lyrics to Sammy Davis Jr.'s song Hey There start by addressing someone with "stars in their eyes," a common phrase used to describe someone who is optimistic and idealistic. The singer notes that this person has not been foolish in love, as they were too wise, implying that they have been cautious in matters of the heart. The second verse describes the person as being on a "high flying cloud," indicating that they are infatuated with someone who is out of reach. Despite this, the singer suggests that the person believes that someday their crush will reciprocate their feelings.
The chorus offers advice to forget the unattainable crush, depicted as someone with a "nose in the air." The crush is portrayed as holding the person on a string, a metaphor suggesting that they are manipulating and controlling the singer's feelings. The advice is to break free from this hold as the crush will not care.
The final verse repeats the chorus and offers the same advice, followed by a rhetorical question asking if the person is too blinded by love to see sense.
Overall, the lyrics explore the theme of unrequited love and offer advice to move on from it. It suggests that pursuing someone who is unattainable is a waste of time and emotional energy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there, you with the stars in your eyes
Hello to the one who looks at everything through rose-colored glasses
Love never made a fool of you, you used to be too wise
You've always been wise enough to not fall for foolish traps of love
Hey there, you on that high flying cloud
Hello to the one who is on cloud nine and loves to live in fantasy
Though she won't throw a crumb to you/ You think someday she'll come to you
Despite her indifference towards you, you believe that she will eventually come around
Better forget her, her with her nose in the air
It's best to move on from that arrogant woman
She has you dancing on a string/ break it and she won't care
She has you wrapped around her finger and won't care if you break free
Won't you take this advice I hand you like a brother
Please listen to this advice I offer, as if it were coming from your own sibling
Or are you not seeing things too clear?
Do you have a clear perspective on this situation?
Are you too much in love to hear?
Are you too blinded by love to hear what others are telling you?
Is it all going in one ear and out the other?
Are you completely ignoring any advice given to you?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Word Collections Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLARENCE GASKILL, JIMMY MC HUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@catman916
Sammy was a great singer. I remember first hearing this when I was a young child.
@terryhillig9818
My favorite of his recordings. Perfection.
@jimhilliker2450
Perfect. Love it. Thanks.
@mintrecords4ever
Great song! Great upload of a legend! I'm glad, that I'm the first one to leave a comment. In my opinion, there should be lots of comments with this upload. 929 views and no comments, WOW! hard to believe. Terrific upload, nice going!