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.
Jingle Bells
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a one-horse open sleigh
Through the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Oh, Jingle bells, jing-jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, everybody
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Jing-jing-jingle in the morning
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Jing-jing-jingle in the evening
And may I say
Gee, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
A one-horse open sleigh
Jing-jing-jingle in the evening
Jing-jing-jingle in the morning
Jingle, jingle, jingle
"Jingle Bells" is a classic Christmas song that is easily recognizable by millions of people around the world. The song is uptempo and uses vivid imagery of riding in a one-horse open sleigh through the snow. The first stanza of the song describes the experience of riding on a horse-drawn sleigh through the snow, with the sound of the bells ringing in the background. The lyrics describe the riders laughing and singing, enjoying the moment of the experience. They are free, enjoying the ride and each other's company.
The second stanza of the song introduces Miss Fanny Bright, who accompanies the singer on a ride in the snow. Unfortunately, their horse gets stuck in the snow and they take a tumble, highlighting the unpredictability of life, and how misfortune can happen to anyone. The third and final stanza encourages people to take advantage of the snowy season and get a horse with a good speed and hitch it to an open sleigh to create their own experience. The song ultimately conveys the joy and excitement of winter and the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Dashing through the snow
Moving quickly through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Traveling on a sled pulled by a single horse with no cover
Over the fields we go,
Crossing large open areas
Laughing all the way;
Enjoying the ride with amusement
Bells on bob-tail ring,
The bells attached to the short tail of the horse on the sled are making sounds
making spirits bright,
Bringing joy and happiness
What fun it is to ride and sing
Expressing delight in both riding and singing together
A sleighing song tonight
A song that accompanies this ride on a sled
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
The sound of the bells attached to the horse's tail
jingle all the way!
The sound is continuous throughout the journey
O what fun it is to ride
This experience is highly enjoyable
In a one-horse open sleigh
On a sled pulled by a single horse with no cover
A day or two ago,
A story from a recent past
I thought I'd take a ride,
I decided to go for a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
A lady named Fanny Bright joined the ride
Was seated by my side;
She sat next to me during the ride
The horse was lean and lank;
The horse was skinny and bony
Misfortune seemed his lot;
The horse appeared unlucky
He got into a drifted bank,
The horse slid into a snowdrift
And we, we got upsot.
We also fell off the sled
Now the ground is white
The snow has covered the ground
Go it while you're young,
Take advantage of youth and health while you can
Take the girls tonight
Invite the ladies to come along this evening
And sing this sleighing song;
Also perform the song that goes with the ride
Just get a bob-tailed bay
Find a horse with a naturally short tail
two-forty as his speed
The horse should be fast
Hitch him to an open sleigh
Attach the horse to a sled with no cover
And crack! you'll take the lead.
You will be in first place with speed and style
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: James Lord Pierpont
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisvegas8769
I like Sammy's Version it swings
@nancydillon5333
Should make you shake your toosh a little bit no matter if you're
1 to 85 . . .