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.
Rhythm Of Life
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tootin' on his trumpet loud and mean
Suddenly a voice said, "Go forth, Daddy
Spread the picture on a wider screen"
And the voice said, "Brother, there's a million pigeons
Ready to be hooked on new religions
Hit the road, Daddy, leave your common law wife Spread the religion of the rhythm of life"
And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet
Rhythm in your bedroom, rhythm in the street
Yes, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
To feel the rhythm of life
To feel the powerful beat
To feel the tingle in your fingers
To feel the tingle in your feet
Daddy spread the gospel in Milwaukee
Took his walkie talkie to Rocky Ridge
Blew his way to Canton then to Scranton
Till he landed under the Manhattan Bridge
Daddy was the new sensation
Got himself a congregation
Built up quite an operation down below
With the pie-eyed piper blowing
While the muscatel was flowing
All the cats were go, go, going down below
Daddy was the new sensation
Built up quite an operation down below
With the pie-eyed piper blowing
While the muscatel was flowing
All the cats were go, go, going down below
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy
Fly, fly, fly to Daddy
Take a dive and swim to Daddy
Take a dive and swim to Daddy
Take a dive and swim to Daddy
Swim, swim, swim to Daddy
Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy
Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy
Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy
Crawl, crawl, crawl to Daddy
And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet
Rhythm in your bedroom, rhythm in the street
Yes, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
To feel the rhythm of life
To feel the powerful beat
To feel the tingle in your fingers
To feel the tingle in your feet
To feel the rhythm of life
To feel the powerful beat
To feel the tingle in your fingers
To feel the tingle in your feet
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy
Take a dive and swim to Daddy
Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy
Daddy, we got the rhythm of life
Of life, of life, of life
Yeah, yeah, yeah man
The lyrics to Sammy Davis Jr.'s song "Rhythm of Life" tell the story of Daddy, a musician who receives a spiritual message telling him to spread the "picture" on "a wider screen" and "spread the religion of the rhythm of life." Daddy obeys the voice and embarks on a journey, blowing his trumpet and preaching about the power of rhythm. For Daddy, rhythm is the religion that unites people and offers them a sense of community and purpose. Along the way, he gains followers who become his congregation, gathering together under the Manhattan Bridge to dance and celebrate the "powerful beat" of rhythm.
The song's lyrics are about the power of music and rhythm to bring people together and create a sense of belonging. Through the character of Daddy, we see how music can be a spiritual force capable of transcending social barriers and bringing joy to people's lives. The song is an homage to the power of music to uplift us and connect us to something greater than ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy started out in San Francisco
Daddy began his musical career in San Francisco
Tootin' on his trumpet loud and mean
Playing his trumpet with full force and energy
Suddenly a voice said, 'Go forth, Daddy
Spread the picture on a wider screen'
Daddy heard a voice telling him to spread his music to a bigger audience
And the voice said, 'Brother, there's a million pigeons
Ready to be hooked on new religions
Hit the road, Daddy, leave your common law wife
Spread the religion of the rhythm of life'
The voice suggested that Daddy should spread his music to new listeners and expand his reach, even if it means leaving his personal life behind
And the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
Puts a tingle in your fingers and a tingle in your feet
Rhythm in your bedroom, rhythm in the street
Yes, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat
The rhythm of life is a potent force that can be felt everywhere, giving people a sense of excitement and energy
To feel the rhythm of life
To feel the powerful beat
To feel the tingle in your fingers
To feel the tingle in your feet
To truly experience life's rhythm, you must feel its power and sensation throughout your body
Daddy spread the gospel in Milwaukee
Took his walkie talkie to Rocky Ridge
Blew his way to Canton then to Scranton
Till he landed under the Manhattan Bridge
Daddy traveled and shared his music in various cities and areas until he finally made it to Brooklyn
Daddy was the new sensation
Got himself a congregation
Built up quite an operation down below
With the pie-eyed piper blowing
While the muscatel was flowing
All the cats were go, go, going down below
Daddy became a popular sensation, attracting many followers and building a successful music career with the help of his talented musicians and enthusiastic fans
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy
Take a dive and swim to Daddy
Hit the floor and crawl to Daddy
Daddy, we got the rhythm of life
People eagerly flock and move to Daddy's music, fully immersed in the powerful rhythm of life
Of life, of life, of life
Yeah, yeah, yeah man
Life is full of rhythm and energy, giving people a sense of joy and excitement
Contributed by Joshua B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shirleypena4133
In the entire history of cinema, this is easily one of the GREATEST musical numbers ever performed, largely due to the truly phenomenal performance of the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., in addition to the sterling choreography created by the late, great Bob Fosse. It's impossible to overstate just how incredibly talented and versatile Sammy was; no performer today comes anywhere near him. He's truly mesmerizing!! RIP to one of the GREATEST artists who ever graced this earth, Sammy Davis Jr. 🥰👍
@mariedewitt5033
Reminds me so much of Fosse's War number from Pippin
@user-zr9nl2wl3o
For some reason the track is not available on Spotify by Sammy Davis Jr.
@theweirdgiraffe4323
wish there was an interview of Sammy discussing the making of this scene....and yes, it's totally awesome, beautiful and full of life. One of a kind
@sherman4970
Does anyone else find this so very mesmerising??
There is just something about it,,it’s awesome!!!!!
@lindawilson5487
I agree🤗
@OofusTwillip
It has a baroque structure of interwoven melodies and rhythms, like Bach's works or Handel's Messiah.
@tomshea8382
@@OofusTwillip Cy Coleman was the business, man.
@simonjones7727
Yes, it is stunning. Like the title sequence of "Charade" (Henry Mancini and Saul Bass on top form), here you have Coleman and Fields on top form, Bob Fosse on top form, Sammy Davis Junior and Shirley MacLaine also all on top form. Aren't the costumes by Edith Head? That is quite a talented crew!
@jonsampiro
The crucifixion imagery at 1:00 and again at 3:20 is amazing. I wonder if it raised any eyebrows at the time.