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.
New York City Blues
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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You know what I'm talking about,
Yes you do.
Well, if you've ever been to New York City,
You know what I'm talking about,
They got such pretty little girls in that big town,
Make a man wanna jump around and shout.
I met a little girl there,
She was about five foot eight.
I said "I want you to love me."
She said "Why man, that'd be great."
So,
I got long hair but,
She took me back,
Back to see her pad,
But the first thing I saw when I arrived there,
Was a big black shiny shotgun,
In the hands of her dad.
Alright now, this is how it was,
Oh no!
Well alright!
I finally learned my lesson,
Such a long time ago,
Next little woman that I date,
I've got to know, I've got to know her family too.
Yes indeed, I gotta know her family too.
But if you don't want to be filled full of shotgun holes,
Mister, this song is just for you.
The song "New York City Blues" is a classic jazz tune that depicts the vibrancy of New York City and its charm that offers its visitors an opportunity to explore all the exciting things the city has to offer, including the beautiful women that inhabit it. The song starts by telling the listener that if they have ever visited the city, they would understand the appeal it has. It goes on to talk about the city's beautiful women who can make a man so happy that he would want to jump around and shout. In the second verse, Sammy Davis narrates an experience he had in New York City. He met a lady who, at first, seemed like a perfect match, but when he got to her house, he saw a big black shotgun in the hands of her dad, which made him realize he had to learn the lesson of knowing his date's family before he could get serious with her.
The lyrics of the song offer a warning of sorts about the challenges of dating in a new city. The singer is a tourist who meets a girl and falls in love with her but has to end things abruptly once he discovers the shotgun in her father's hands. The song portrays the thrill of being in New York City, but it also offers a lesson to the listener about the importance of being cautious when meeting new people. Through the song, the listener understands the need to take the necessary precautions before diving in headfirst into a new romance.
Line by Line Meaning
If you've ever been to New York City,
If you've had the pleasure of visiting New York City before,
You know what I'm talking about,
Then you will understand what I mean by the following statements,
Yes you do.
I am confident that you do.
Well, if you've ever been to New York City,
Like I just said, if you've been to New York City,
You know what I'm talking about,
Then you will understand what I mean by the following statements,
They got such pretty little girls in that big town,
The young women in New York City are extraordinarily attractive,
Make a man wanna jump around and shout.
It's easy to get excited and want to express joy when in their presence.
I met a little girl there,
At one point, I encountered a young woman in the city,
She was about five foot eight.
She was a moderate height, around 5'8".
I said "I want you to love me."
I expressed my emotional interest in her by saying, "I want you to love me."
She said "Why man, that'd be great."
She responded positively by saying, "Yes, man, that would be wonderful."
So,
This led to the following events,
I got long hair but,
Although I have long hair,
She took me back,
She brought me back with her,
Back to see her pad,
She took me to her place of residence,
But the first thing I saw when I arrived there,
However, the initial thing that caught my eye when I reached her residence,
Was a big black shiny shotgun,
Was an enormous, shiny, black shotgun,
In the hands of her dad.
That her father was gripping tightly in his hands.
Alright now, this is how it was,
In retrospect, this is how the scenario played out,
Oh no!
Oh dear!
Well alright!
Well, that's fine!
I finally learned my lesson,
I've gained wisdom from my previous experiences,
Such a long time ago,
Even though it was quite some time ago,
Next little woman that I date,
In the future, the next woman I pursue romantically,
I've got to know, I've got to know her family too.
I must put forth the effort to become acquainted with her family as well.
Yes indeed, I gotta know her family too.
Absolutely, I must go to the trouble of meeting her relatives and getting to know them as well.
But if you don't want to be filled full of shotgun holes,
However, if you wish to avoid being shot by a shotgun,
Mister, this song is just for you.
This song is aimed specifically towards you, sir.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: QUINCY DELIGHT III JONES, PEGGY LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind