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.
My Shining Hour
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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And each second in it
Will leave a glow upon the sky
And as time goes by, it will never die
This will be my shining hour
Calm and happy and bright
In my dreams your face will flower Through the darkness of the night
Like the lights of home before me
Or an angel watching over me
This will be my shining hour
'Til I'm with you again
Like the lights of home before me
Or an angel watching over me
This will be my shining hour
'Til I'm with you again
The song "My Shining Hour" by Sammy Davis Jr. is a love song about cherishing a moment that is filled with happiness and love. The lyrics describe how this moment, this minute, and each second in it will leave an everlasting, luminous impression upon the sky. The singer is certain that, as time goes by, this bright image and feeling will never fade away. It will remain like a shining beacon, serving as a guiding force for the singer in times of darkness, like a lighthouse in a stormy sea. The singer reflects on this moment, acknowledging that it will be their shining hour, where all their fears and insecurities are put aside, and they find calm, happiness, and brightness. The end of the song speaks about how this moment will be a light in the dark, like the light of home or an angel watching over the singer. The singer knows that this shining hour will remain with them until they are reunited with their loved one once again.
Overall, the song expresses the idea of cherishing small moments of happiness and love, holding onto them as a source of comfort and strength in times of hardship. It is about finding hope and light in a dark world, and realizing that even the briefest of moments can have a profound impact on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
This moment, this minute
The present moment and every passing second
And each second in it
All the moments that make up my life
Will leave a glow upon the sky
Will make an impact and be remembered
And as time goes by, it will never die
It will remain unchanged with the passing of time
This will be my shining hour
This moment will be the peak of my happiness
Calm and happy and bright
Feeling content and joyful
In my dreams your face will flower
You will always bring happiness in my dreams
Through the darkness of the night
Even in moments of loneliness and doubt
Like the lights of home before me
Bringing me comfort and peace
Or an angel watching over me
Protected and guided by a higher power
Til I'm with you again
Until we can be together once more
Contributed by Josiah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.