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.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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Still we're often told, "seek and ye shall find"
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
In the song "Someone To Watch Over Me," Sammy Davis Jr. sings about a woman who is desperately seeking a man she hasn't been able to find. She acknowledges that love is often hard to come by, but she's holding out hope that she'll find the man she's looking for. She describes this man as the "big affair I cannot forget, the only man I ever think of with regret." She wants to add his initial to her monogram but doesn't know where he is or who he is. She describes herself as a "lost lamb who's lost in the wood" and desperately needs someone to watch over her. She hopes that the man she's seeking will be the one who'll watch over her and keep her safe. Although this man may not be seen as typically handsome, he carries the key to her heart, and she begs for him to come find her.
The lyrics of this song represent the universal desire for love and companionship. The woman in the song is vulnerable and lost, but she's hopeful that she'll find someone to watch over her. Her search is relatable for many people who are also looking for a special person to share their life with. The song's message is one of hope and longing for connection, which is expressed beautifully through Davis Jr.'s emotive performance.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a saying old says that love is blind
An old saying claims that love is irrational and makes people overlook flaws
Still we're often told, "seek and ye shall find"
Despite the irrationality of love, people are told to actively search for it
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
I have a specific person in mind that I am actively searching for
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Despite my efforts, I have not yet found the person I am searching for
He's the big affair I cannot forget
The person I am searching for is someone who is significant and important to me
Only man I ever think of with regret
This person is the only one I have ever thought of with feelings of regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
I want to express my commitment to this person by incorporating their initial into my personal emblem
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
I feel lost and in need of someone to guide me to the person I am searching for
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I have a strong desire to see a particular person
I hope that he turns out to be
I have a wish that this person will meet my expectations
Someone who'll watch over me
I want someone who will protect, care for, and support me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I feel vulnerable and alone, like a helpless lamb that has strayed from its flock
I know I could always be good
I believe that with the right guidance, I can be a good and loyal companion
Someone who'll watch over me
I need someone to be there for me, to protect me and keep me safe
Although he may not be the man some
Although this person may not fit everyone's idea of a desirable partner
Girls think of as handsome
Though some women may not consider him physically attractive
To my heart he carries the key
This person holds the key to my heart and has the power to make me happy or sad
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Can you please urge him to hurry and come to me?
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Please follow my guidance and come to me, as I am in desperate need of you
Someone to watch over me
I need someone to be my protector and guardian
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., O/B/O DistroKid, ONErpm, Sentric Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind