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.
Spring Is Here
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
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Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
No desire, no ambition leads me
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Spring is here I hear
Spring is here! Why doesn't my heart go dancing?
Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
No desire, no ambition leads me
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Spring is here I hear
The lyrics of Sammy Davis Jr.'s song "Spring Is Here" explore the feelings of loneliness and melancholy that can accompany the arrival of spring. The singer questions why their heart isn't filled with joy and why they aren't captivated by the beauty and romance of the season. They wonder why they lack desire, ambition, and why they feel unloved and unwanted. The repetition of the refrain emphasizes the contrast between the external signs of spring and the singer's internal emotional state.
The lyrics suggest a sense of detachment and isolation, as if the singer feels disconnected from the world around them. The mention of the breeze, stars, and night further highlights this disconnection, as they are typically associated with pleasant and romantic experiences. The line "Maybe it's because nobody loves me" reflects the singer's feelings of inadequacy and the idea that their loneliness is a result of being unloved.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet nature of spring, where the external signs of renewal and love contrast with the internal struggles of loneliness and unfulfillment. It portrays a sense of yearning for connection and a desire to experience the joy and romance that spring traditionally brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Spring is here! Why doesn't my heart go dancing?
Despite the arrival of spring, my heart fails to feel the joy and excitement that usually accompanies it.
Spring is here! Why isn't the waltz entrancing?
Even though spring has arrived, I cannot seem to find the enchantment and allure in the waltz like I used to.
No desire, no ambition leads me
I lack any motivation or aspiration to pursue anything meaningful.
Maybe it's because nobody needs me
Perhaps the reason behind my lack of enthusiasm is the belief that I am not valued or necessary by anyone.
Spring is here! Why doesn't the breeze delight me?
The gentle breeze of spring fails to bring me the joy and pleasure it used to evoke in me.
Stars appear, why doesn't the night invite me?
Even though the stars illuminate the night sky, I feel excluded and untouched by its beauty and magic.
Maybe it's because nobody loves me
Perhaps the absence of love and affection from others is the underlying cause of my emotional detachment in this season of rebirth.
Spring is here I hear
I am aware, though not personally experiencing, that spring has arrived.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind