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.
Talk
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could talk to the animals.
Just imagine if.
Chatting with a chimp chimpanzee.
Imagine talking to the tiger.
Chatting with the cheetah.
What a neat achievement it would be.
If we could talk to the animals.
And learn there languages.
Maybe take an animal to agree.
I'd study elephant and eagle.
Buffalo and beagle.
Alligator, guinea pig , and Flea.
I would converse in Polar bear pathon(?).
I wouldn't curse in fluent Kangaroo.
If people asked me can you speak rhinoceros.
I'd say of causurus.
Can't you.
If I could flirt with a fury friends.
Man the animal.
Think of the amazing repartee.
If I could walk with the animals.
And talk with the animals.
Grunt,
Squeak
And squawk with the animals.
And love they could talk to me.
(Instrument Solo)
If I could talk to the animals.
Think what fun we'd have.
Asking over crocodiles for tea.
Or maybe lunch with two or three lions.
Walruses and sea lions.
What a lovely place the world would be.
If I spoke slang to an orangutan.
Oh the advantages.
Any fool on earth can plainly see.
Discussing ease and art and dramas.
With intellectual llamas.
That's a big steep for a dual of three.
I'd learn to speak in antelope and turtle.
My Pekinese would be extremely good.
If I were asked to sing in Hippopotamus
I'd say why-not-amus
And I would.
Stop and think of it .
There's no doubt of it.
I could win a place in history.
If I could walk with the animals.
And talk to the animals.
Grunt, Squeak,
And squawk with the animals.
And they could. Squeak, and Squawk,
and Speak , and Talk To me
They would talk too.
Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Talk To The Animals" is a delightful and lighthearted song about the fantasy of being able to converse with animals. In the song, Davis expresses his desire to talk to all kinds of creatures, including chimpanzees, tigers, cheetahs, elephants, eagles, buffalos, alligators, guinea pigs, fleas, polar bears, kangaroos, and rhinoceroses. He imagines having a witty and intelligent conversation with these animals, discussing everything from art to drama to politics.
The song is a celebration of the fantastic and the surreal, and it taps into the childlike wonder that many of us have about the natural world. It's an invitation to imagine a world in which we can communicate with animals, and it's a reminder that the world is full of magic and mystery.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa,
Expressing excitement or astonishment at the possibility of talking to animals.
If I could talk to the animals.
Hypothetical situation of having the ability to communicate with animals.
Just imagine if.
Invitation to ponder the potential opportunities of talking to animals.
Chatting with a chimp chimpanzee.
Visualizing a conversation with a chimpanzee.
Imagine talking to the tiger.
Envisioning a dialogue with a tiger.
Chatting with the cheetah.
Anticipating a chat with a cheetah.
What a neat achievement it would be.
Acknowledgment of the uniqueness and coolness of being able to talk to animals.
And learn their languages.
Expanding knowledge and understanding of animals by learning their forms of communication.
Maybe taking an animal to agree.
Possibly coming to an understanding with an animal.
I'd study elephant and eagle.
Showing interest in studying how these animals communicate.
Buffalo and beagle.
Expressing the desire to learn how to communicate with these animals.
Alligator, guinea pig, and Flea.
Curiosity about communicating with a range of animals, including small ones like guinea pigs and fleas.
I would converse in Polar bear pathon(?).
Desire to speak the language of polar bears.
I wouldn't curse in fluent Kangaroo.
Showing respect for the animals by not using inappropriate language.
If people asked me can you speak rhinoceros.
Hypothetical situation of someone asking about the ability to communicate with rhinos.
I'd say of causurus.
Response indicating that one can indeed speak rhinoceros.
If I could walk with the animals.
Imagining the possibility of interacting with animals on a deeper level.
And talk with the animals.
Conversation being a two-way street between humans and animals.
Grunt, Squeak and squawk with the animals.
Acknowledging that animals have their own forms of communication beyond vocalization.
And love they could talk to me.
Desire to connect and bond with animals on a deeper level.
Think what fun we'd have.
Anticipation of enjoyable experiences talking to animals.
Asking over crocodiles for tea.
Playful idea of having tea with crocodiles.
Or maybe lunch with two or three lions.
Another playful idea of having lunch with lions.
Walruses and sea lions.
Additional animals that one might want to chat with.
What a lovely place the world would be.
The world would be a nicer place if humans could connect with animals on a deeper level.
Oh the advantages.
Noting the benefits of being able to communicate with animals.
Any fool on earth can plainly see.
It's clear that there would be benefits to being able to talk to animals.
Discussing ease and art and dramas.
Talking about different subjects with different animals.
With intellectual llamas.
Even llamas could be part of an intellectual conversation.
That's a big steep for a dual of three.
Curiosity about the possibility of having intellectual conversations with different animals.
I'd learn to speak in antelope and turtle.
Showing the interest and dedication needed to learn how to communicate with these animals.
My Pekinese would be extremely good.
Anticipating being able to communicate very well with one's own dog.
If I were asked to sing in Hippopotamus, I'd say why-not-amus.
Playful response to the ridiculous idea of trying to sing in the language of hippos.
And I would.
Showing a willingness to try anything.
There's no doubt of it.
Clearly believing in the advantages of being able to talk to animals.
I could win a place in history.
The potential impact on the world of being known as someone who could talk to animals.
And they could.
Animals would be able to communicate back.
Squeak, and squawk and speak and talk to me.
Animals would have a voice and be able to communicate with humans on a deeper level.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leslie Bricusse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Man-Bag Dammit
Love this man. So honest and well spoken. He had more talent in his pinky nail then 99% of entertainers today. These were stars ! The big entertainers of that era were worth your time and energy. RIP Sammy.
Jene Anderson
This guy had more talent in his little finger than anyone in Hollywood NOW. No doubt in my mind
Capitalizing Capitalist
Richard Page Foxx doesn't have near the level of charisma.
Downtown Bobby Brown
Dam right ! I just wish he did 'nt smoke those f 'in cigs !
David Benitez
Well your out of your mind with that statement
Jason Ferguson
I subscribed to your channel because you said this Jene!
Isabella Lundgren
Besides the fact that Sammy is one of the greatest entertainers in history, this interview also highlights another admirable aspect of who he was. He was not trying to portray himself as perfect, and despite the fact of discussing very unflattering aspects of his personality, he was not defensive or combative. He was brave, vulnerable and integrated- and therefor a true role model. I can´t imagine seeing a contemporary public person behaving in this matter, with such wisdom, truthfulness and self-reflection.
Jim Elmore
Sammy was an all around talent. Sing, dance, comedy and just generally entertaining to watch.
dwsan1tx
Excellent interview. Listening to him reveal himself was gold. He reflects on his life and freely admits his human flaws and successes. Very interesting man.
mysterytrain3
Love this guy. He truly was intelligent, in spite of what he thought about himself. Listen to the performers of today. Not many are even as close to being as articulate as Sam was in this interview. Not even close. RIP. You were the real thing, Sammy.