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 Cover the Waterfront
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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I'm watching the sea,,
Will the one I love,
Be coming back to me?
I cover the waterfront,
In search of my love,
And I'm covered by,
Here am I,
Patiently waiting,
Hoping and longing,
Oh! How I yearn!
Where are you?
Are you forgetting?
Do you remember?
Will you return?
I cover the waterfront,
I'm watching the sea,
For the one I love,
Must come back to me.
In Sammy Davis Jr.'s song "I Cover the Waterfront," the lyrics convey a sense of longing, hope, and anticipation for the return of a loved one. The singer positions themselves by the waterfront, symbolizing their connection to the vastness of the sea, and watches, yearning for their beloved to come back to them. The repetition of "I cover the waterfront" emphasizes the singer's dedication and determination in their search for love.
The lyrics are infused with a sense of vulnerability and solitude depicted by the starless sky above. The mention of a starless sky suggests a lack of guidance and light, which could be seen as a metaphor for the singer's emotional state. They are patiently waiting, hoping, and longing for their loved one to return, questioning whether they have been forgotten or remembered. The lyrics capture the emotional rollercoaster of love, as the singer toggles between doubt and a steadfast belief in the eventual reunion of their love.
Overall, "I Cover the Waterfront" portrays the universal theme of love, distance, and the longing for a loved one's return. It reflects the emotional depth of the singer and their desire to be reunited with their beloved, even in the absence of certainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I cover the waterfront
I am constantly present and vigilant at the waterfront
I'm watching the sea
I am attentively observing the vast expanse of the ocean
Will the one I love
Is it possible that the person I deeply care for
Be coming back to me?
Will they return to my side once again?
I cover the waterfront
I continue to maintain my watchfulness at the waterfront
In search of my love
I am tirelessly seeking for my beloved
And I'm covered by
And I am encompassed by
A starless sky above
An empty and dark sky that lacks the guiding presence of stars
Here am I
Here I am, in this moment
Patiently waiting
Exercising patience as I endure the waiting
Hoping and longing
Filled with hope and intense desire
Oh! How I yearn!
Oh! How I deeply crave and yearn for them!
Where are you?
Where are you, my beloved?
Are you forgetting?
Is it possible that you have forgotten about me?
Do you remember?
Do you still hold memories of our love?
Will you return?
Will you come back to me?
I cover the waterfront
I continue to keep watch at the waterfront
I'm watching the sea
I'm attentively observing the sea
For the one I love
Because the person I love so deeply
Must come back to me.
Must inevitably return to my embrace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Heyman, John W. Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind