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.
The Good Life
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems to be the ideal
Yes, the good life let's you hide
All the sadness you feel.
You won't really fall in love,
For you can't take the chance
So be honest with yourself, Don't try to fake romance.
It's the good life
To be free and explore the unknown,
Like the heartaches
When you learn you must face them alone.
Please remember, I still love you,
And in case you don't know,
Well, just wake up,
Kiss the good life "hel-lo".
Sammy Davis Jr.'s The Good Life speaks about the contradiction between the appearance and the reality of a good life. The song suggests that the good life is mostly about having fun - indulging in pleasures and enjoying the finer things. The good life is then portrayed as a mere escape from the sadness one feels. The singer suggests that those living the good life are not really experiencing true love, as they do not take the risk of falling in love. The good life is then described as an illusion since it is not genuine.
The second stanza continues to highlight the contradiction by urging the listener to be honest with themselves and not to pretend they can feel the love they do not. The good life is also portrayed as freedom, the ability to explore the unknown, and to cope with heartaches alone when needed. The third stanza, the most poignant of all, perhaps, suggests that the singer still loves the listener but encourages them to ditch the good life and embrace their love. The line "Kiss the good life 'hel-lo'" represents the realization that the individual has disentangled themselves from the false life they once knew and has fully embraced genuine happiness and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the good life, full of fun,
The singer is introducing and describing the good life, a life that is enjoyable and pleasurable.
Seems to be the ideal
The good life is seen as an ideal that people should strive for and aspire to.
Yes, the good life let's you hide
The good life allows you to conceal your feelings of sadness and pain.
All the sadness you feel.
Despite the good life being full of fun, the artist acknowledges that people may still feel sadness and pain.
You won't really fall in love,
The artist suggests that falling in love is not a realistic or practical option in the good life.
For you can't take the chance
The reason why falling in love is not practical in the good life is because there is a risk involved that people may not want to take.
So be honest with yourself,
The singer advises people to be truthful about their feelings and desires.
Don't try to fake romance.
The artist discourages people from pretending or faking feelings of romance that they do not genuinely feel.
It's the good life
The artist reiterates that the good life is indeed a desirable and enjoyable way of living.
To be free and explore the unknown,
The artist suggests that one of the benefits of the good life is the freedom to discover and experience new and unexplored things.
Like the heartaches
However, the good life may also come with its own set of challenges and difficulties, such as heartache and pain.
When you learn you must face them alone.
One of these challenges may be the realization that people must face their problems and emotions alone, without the help or support of others.
Please remember, I still love you,
The singer wants someone to remember that they are loved by the singer.
And in case you don't know,
The singer is unsure if the person they are speaking to is aware of their love for them.
Well, just wake up,
The singer wants the person to become aware of their love and feelings for them.
Kiss the good life "hel-lo".
The good life is personified as something to be greeted like a friend, and the artist encourages the person to embrace and enjoy it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOSHUA JACKSON, TONI NIELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@voicegirl555
The greatest entertainer of the 20th Century. So unrated! So very talented! He could do it all! One of my favorites and you sing it like nobody else and that includes your buddy Frank. He can't touch you Sam!!!
@syneathiabell1350
I am so feeling this....Love you Sammy!!!💗💗💗
@WALRU11
Now, this is interesting. Sammy jazzes up this Tony Bennett classic with a touch of DInah Washington styling. Very cool.
@VictoriaCastillolaloka
My Favorite Version!!!! I freaking love this song. #ARealAmericanClassic
@TrishBell1
The epitome of cool. Playing it on my internet show Sunday Sounds KABL.
@michelmotta4339
Fabulosa está interpretação
@augustuscaesar7846
Im in love with this song & the good life. The Ideal.
@girl43
the best version imo =) sammy sings it in a very special way ... there's something desperate and vulnerable about it ...
@lalaward9143
I love Sammy's version!!!
@mLi75
the best version by far