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.
I Ain't Got Nobody
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm so sad and lonely
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?
I'll sing sweet love songs, all of the time
If you'll come and be my baby, mine
I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me
If you come and be my baby, mine
I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me
The lyrics to Sammy Davis Jr.'s "I Ain't Got Nobody" speak to the feeling of isolation, loneliness, and longing for companionship. The repetition of the phrase "I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me" emphasizes the depth of the singer's feeling of being unwanted and unloved. The desperation in the lyrics is further underscored by the opening line, which is a direct statement of the singer's predicament.
The singer then goes on to plead with an unnamed person to "take a chance" on him and to be his baby, promising to shower them with love songs all the time. The repeated refrain at the end of each verse reinforces the idea that the singer truly has nobody and is willing to do anything to change that.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me
I am alone and lack anyone who loves and cares for me.
And I'm so sad and lonely
I experience deep negative emotions due to my feeling alone and isolated.
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?
Is there anyone who is willing to start a relationship with me despite my lack of companionship?
I'll sing sweet love songs, all of the time
I promise to express my feelings of love and affection through beautiful music consistently.
If you'll come and be my baby, mine
If you are willing to enter into a relationship with me, I will shower you with love and affection.
I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me
I am reiterating that I am alone and do not have anyone who loves and cares for me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roger Graham, Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
salzburg9
brill version from Sammy, thanks !
Taylor Morgan
LOVE THIS!!
B R
I like this version and David Lee Roth's version is great too. Thanks for posting
dearmalika
Great!Love it!
JoeWellington
Great as always!
Thomas Snider
Louis Prima's version is still the best
colBoh
The audio's a little too patchy for me, but an awesome song nonetheless!
Sex Is My Game
Great!
Justin Reich
Sammy's good but I think he did this song a little too upbeat.
IndependentGeorge76
very nice, but still think Jelly Roll Morton did the best version of this