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 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, "Daady, there's a million pigeons
Ready to be hooked on new religions.
Hit the road, Daddy. Leave your common-law wife.
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, 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.
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 Rhythm of Life" describes the journey of Daddy from his humble beginnings in San Francisco to becoming a preacher of the "rhythm of life," a new religion that he introduces to people all over the country. The lyrics describe how Daddy's use of his trumpet was a catalyst to a new direction in life, which was to spread his message to a wider audience. He is referred to as a new sensation, and his congregation is represented as having pie-eyed pipers and flowing muscatel. The song suggests that Daddy created a new religion based on the power of music, the rhythm of life, and the sense of community that it brings. The lyrics invite people to join Daddy's religion and embrace the rhythm of life with all their hearts.
The song is a celebration of life and its rhythm, and it invites the audience to join in with the powerful beat of music. The lyrics describe Daddy's journey through different places in America, narrating the impact he had on people's lives. The song suggests that Daddy's new religion is a much-needed change in a world that seems to have lost its connection to the rhythm of life. It is a call to action for people to come together, to feel the rhythm of life, and to experience the tingle it brings to one's fingers and feet.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy started out in San Francisco, tootin' on his trumpet loud and mean.
The singer's father began his journey as a musician in San Francisco by playing his trumpet in a loud and spectacular fashion.
Suddenly a voice said, "Go forth, Daddy. Spread the picture on a wider screen."
A metaphysical voice speaks to the singer's father and encourages him to broaden his horizons.
And the voice said, "Daady, 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 tells the singer's father that there are many people open to new experiences, and instructs him to leave his partner and promote 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.
The rhythm of life is a powerful force that invigorates and inspires people, permeating every aspect of their lives, both in public and private.
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 experience the rhythm of life is to feel an energizing sensation in one's hands and feet caused by the powerful beat of the rhythm.
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.
The singer's father spreads his message of the rhythm of life to various cities, including Milwaukee, Canton, Scranton, and even under the Manhattan Bridge.
Daddy was the new sensation, got himself a congregation, built up quite an operation down below.
The singer's father wins many admirers and followers, resulting in a prospering business.
With the pie-eyed piper blowing, while the muscatel was flowing, all the cats were go, go, going down below.
The people in the artist's father's establishment were drinking heavily and enjoying the music provided by the featured musician.
Flip your wings and fly to Daddy, take a dive and swim to Daddy, hit the floor and crawl to Daddy, crawl, crawl, crawl to Daddy.
These lyrics are an invitation to join and participate in the rhythmic energy and movements.
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 exciting and stimulating, creating an impressive ambiance that extends beyond just the musical realm.
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 experience the rhythm of life, one has to feel its powerful beat with its associated pleasant tingle in one's hands and feet.
Daddy we got the rhythm of life, of life, of life, of life. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Man!
This statement is the ultimate affirmation that the artist and his companions have successfully embraced the rhythm of life and all its accompanying pleasures.
Contributed by Joseph Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@terryhastings2465
Not only was Sammy Davis Jr. a great singer and actor, he tap danced, played the trombone, vibraphone and drums! The man had talent beyond talent!
@kazkazzie3906
His talent was just oozing out of him. He was a phenomenal talent. A triple threat 😊
@paulamiles9559
He was the best!
@michael5876
I am currently obsessed with all aspects of this number from choreography to costuming.
@roberttreborable
Not surprised it's totally brilliant...
@bvfreaf
Same.
@armt8543
Literally,, I recently got into the 70’s Jesus Christ superstar- omgggg the costumesssss so 70’s
@jaimetorraco8487
That's the Fosse for ya, baby!
@erinmalone2669
It’s hypnotic
@Fatelink
One of the best musical sequences in film history. Thank you Sammy Davis Jr and Bob Fosse.