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.
Let There Be Love
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let there be me.
Let there be oysters
Under the sea.
Let there be wind,
An occassional rain.Chile con carne,
Sparkling champagne --
Let there be birds
To sing in the trees,
Someone to bless me
Whenever I sneeze.
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please --
Let there be love.
~interlude~
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
But first of all, please --
Let there be love...
Hmmm umm...love
Hmmm umm...love
Let there be love.
The song "Let There Be Love" by Sammy Davis Jr. is a sweet and charming love song that highlights the beauty of love, friendship, and the simple pleasures of life. The lyrics suggest that love, like the other natural elements, is a necessity for a fulfilled life. The singer wishes for the basic necessities like oysters, wind, rain, and Chile con carne, but the most essential element that he prays for is love. The song then goes on to mention the vibrant birdlife and concludes that love, above all else, is the one thing that everybody needs.
One interpretation of the song is that love is a binding force that connects people and nature. The references to oysters, bubbly champagne, Chile con carne, and bird songs create an atmosphere of indulgence and luxury. The singer's desire for love is not merely about finding a romantic partner but also about finding a connection with the world around him. The ultimate goal of the song seems to be that love is the one thing that can truly make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Let there be you,
Let there be the person who completes me
Let there be me.
Let there be my own existence
Let there be oysters
Under the sea.
Let there be treasures that are yet to be discovered
Let there be wind,
An occassional rain.
Let there be unexpected twists and turns in life
Chile con carne,
Sparkling champagne --
Let there be enjoyment of life's pleasures
Let there be birds
To sing in the trees,
Let there be a joyful soundtrack to life
Someone to bless me
Whenever I sneeze.
Let there be someone who cares for me
Let there be cuckoos,
A lark and a dove,
Let there be an abundance of beauty in nature
But first of all, please --
Let there be love.
But above all else, let there be love
Hmmm umm...love
Love is something that cannot be expressed in words
Hmmm umm...love
Love is something that is felt in the heart
Let there be love.
Love is the most important thing in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richardagins871
There never was, nor will there ever be anyone like Sammy. RIP, brother.
@michaelfitzpatrick3524
From "The Wham of Sam", with Marty Paich arranging and conducting. Good from beginning to end. I believe his first album for Reprise, Sinatra's new label. This was the first of a series of very food recordings made with Paich in the 60's.
@ahothabeth
Thank you for the info. I was wondering who draw up the excellent arrangement. I much research Marty Paich.
@volrath247
First