Jerry Jeff Walker (born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York, on 16 Mar… Read Full Bio ↴Jerry Jeff Walker (born Ronald Clyde Crosby in Oneonta, New York, on 16 March 1942; died 23 October 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known for writing the 1968 song "Mr. Bojangles".

During the late 1950s, Crosby was a member of a local Oneonta teen band called The Tones. The band traveled to Philadelphia to audition for Dick Clark's "American Bandstand", but were turned down. Members of the band found Dick Clark's house and were able to get a recommendation to audition at New York City's Baton Records through the company's lead producer Sol Rabinowitz. The band was given a recording contract, but the studio wanted a quintet backed by studio musicians, which left Crosby and another member out of their recordings.

After high school, Crosby joined the National Guard, but his thirst for adventure led him to go AWOL and roam the country busking for a living in areas like New Orleans, Texas, Florida, and New York. He played mostly ukulele until Harriet Ottenheimer, one of the founders of The Quorum, got him settled on a guitar in 1963. He adopted his stage name "Jerry Jeff Walker" in 1966. He spent his early folk music days in Greenwich Village in the mid 1960s. He co-founded a band with Bob Bruno in the late 1960s called Circus Maximus that put out two albums one with the popular west coast hit "Wind", but Bruno's interest in jazz apparently diverged from Walker's interest in folk music. Walker thus resumed his solo career and recorded the seminal album "Mr. Bojangles" with the help of David Bromberg and other influential Atlantic recording artists. He settled in Austin, Texas, in the 1970s associating mainly with the country-rock outlaw scene that included artists such as Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, and Townes Van Zandt.

"Mr. Bojangles" (written by Walker) is perhaps his most well-known and most-often covered song. It was about an obscure alcoholic but talented tap-dancing drifter, (not the famous stage and movie dancer Bill Robinson, as usually assumed). Bojangles is thought to have been a folk character who entertained informally in the south of the US and California, and some say he might have been one of the most gifted natural dancers ever. Authentic reports of him exist from the 1920s through about 1965. Artists from Nina Simone to Bob Dylan, Philip Glass to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, have covered the song. Walker has also recorded songs written by others such as "LA Freeway" (Guy Clark), and "Up Against the Wall Red Neck Mother" (Ray Wylie Hubbard).

A string of records for MCA and Elektra followed Jerry Jeff's move to Austin, before he gave up on the mainstream music business and formed his own independent record label. Tried & True Music was founded in 1986, with his wife Susan as President and manager. Susan also founded Goodknight Music as his management company and Tried & True Artists for his bookings. A series of increasingly autobiographical records followed under the Tried & True imprint. Tried & True also sells his autobiography called "Gypsy Songman". In 2004, Jerry Jeff released his first DVD of songs from his past as performed in an intimate setting in Austin, TX.

He interpreted the songs of others like Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Keith Sykes, Paul Siebel, Bob Dylan, Todd Snider and even a rodeo clown named Billy Jim Baker.

His son, Django Walker, is also a musician. In addition to his residence in Austin, Walker had a retreat on Ambergris Caye in Belize where he recorded his "Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits" album in 1998.

Members of his band varied over the years. The Lost Gonzo Band and the Gonzo Compadres have backed him in the past. Key members of his band included Craig Hillis - guitarist and arranger on Viva Terlingua, John Inmon, Freddy Krc, Gary P. Nunn, Bob Livingston, Bobby Rambo, Mitch Watkins, Steve Samuel, David Bromberg and others.

Lost Sea Shanty
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Jerry Jeff Walker:

02 Jerry Jeff Walker Jerry Jeff Walker stumbled up the stairs on his way…
A Dead Men Got No Dreams Jerry Jeff Walker Chorus: Go ahead and live your life and l…
A Letter Sung To Friends Jerry Jeff Walker Thank you for being beautiful in my tim…
A Secret Take me on your magic trip Show me the world…
About Her Eyes Keith Sykes About her eyes, now they're misty shinin' About…
Alright Guy You know, just the other morning I was hanging around…
Backslider As the rain ruins my alibi I'm down to tellin' you…
Bad Girl Hey let me tell you 'bout a girl I know Billie…
Bad News Yeah, well, I picked peaches in Georgia, And I've lumberjac…

Ballad of the Hulk The cycle of life is here To see in all of…
Banks of the Old Bandera On the banks of the ole Bandera runs a barefoot…
Barefootin' Robert Parker Everybody get on your feet, you make me ner…
Blue Mood Jerry Jeff Walker Well I'd already turned the lights out, a…
Blues In Your Mind Away back down the line you slipped and fell behind And…
Boats To Build It's time for a change I'm tired of that same ol…
Boogie Mama Bobby Rambo Just like the weather in Texas, you put me…
Borderline There ain't nothin' in the world That can take away my…
Born To Sing A Dancin Everywhere I go I hear the music in the streets People…
Born To Sing a Dancin' Song Everywhere I go I hear the music in the streets People…
Broken Toys There's not much to say for what was mine today But…
But For The Time How I tried not to hide our goodbye And see…
But Not For Me Old man sunshine listen you Never tell me dreams come true J…
Cadillac Cowboy Hold tight to the leather fist Watch out when he…
Candles and Cut Flowers Jerry Jeff Walker She likes candles and cut flowers, rearra…
Champagne don Champagne don't hurt me baby Cocaine don't drive me crazy …
Charlie Dunn Well, if you're ever in Austin, Texas A little run down…
Come Away To Belize With Me Jerry Jeff Walker Chorus: Hey come away to Belize with me, …
Comfort And Crazy Say you have got the best years of my life…
Contrary to Ordinary I never live my life through other people's eyes I guess…
Cottage For Sale Our little dream castle with every dream gone, Is lonely an…
Couldn Gary P Nunn/Karen Brooks The lamp is broken on the mantle M…
Courage Of Love Jerry Jeff Walker A love for others shouldn't lack in coura…
Cross The Borderline There ain't nothin' in the world That can take away my…
Curly and Lil Curly would drive that old pickup truck Lilly would roll a…
Curly Lil Curly would drive that old pickup truck Lilly would roll a…
Dang Me Well here I sit-a high, just gettin' ideas Ain't nothing…
David & Me It's a one, two, it's a one, to, three, yea Hey,…
Dead Men Got No Dreams Jerry Jeff Walker Chorus: Go ahead and live your life and l…
Dealing With the Devil Sanger, Shaver, Raven Yeah I used to run with whiskey St…
Dear John Letter Lounge Jerry Jeff Walker Well I guess it finally happened I'm tire…
Derby Day Yeah Susan you are a jewel 'Bout the rarest I've ever…
Desperados Waiting for a Train Yeah I played the Red River Valley He'd sit in the…
Desperados Waiting for the Train (Live) Guy Clark I played the Red River Valley He'd sit in the…
Detour Travelin' down life's crooked road, Lots of things there I…
Don Jerry Jeff Walker, John Inmon, Keith Sykes Oh these days, I…
Don't It Make You Wanna Dance Well, I've been gone for so long Feels so good just…
Don't It Make You Wanna Dance? ) eI've been gone for so long, don't it feel good…
Don't Think Twice It's Alright Bob Dylan It ain't no use to sit and wonder why,…
Down In Belize Dennis Wolf Well he came down on vacation, 'cause he liked…
Down in Texas Jerry Jeff Walker Yeah down in Texas we got our own…
Down the Road Django Walker/Greg Combs Took the bus out of Austin, band…
Driftin One, two, one, two, three, yeah Well, I makes money, money…
Dust on My Boots Started traveling A mind to unravel Footloose tramp upon a…
Eastern Avenue Railway Blues Shadows come creepin' down the alleys, Lonesome lines the b…
Every Drop Of Water Life is like a roller coaster It's up and down, it's…
Everything Happens to Me Black cats creep across my path Until I'm almost mad I must…
Fading Lady count all your jewelry and your lace count all the shoes…
Flowers in the Snow Bill Staines Who will walk her tonight out in the heather W…
Follow Let the rivers rock you like a cradle Climb to the…
Fred Neil Medley Fred Neil Sometimes I think about old Saturday's child And …
Gertrude Yeah now, Gertrude Was just a one-eyed gal Workin' down in…
Get It Out Jerry Jeff Walker Oh some times, seems I can't find the…
Gettin Hi, buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again. Gonna try to slide o…
Gettin By Hi, buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again. Gonna try to slide …
Gettin' By Hi, buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again. Gonna try to slide o…
Gettin' By (Live (1973/Luckenbach Jerry Jeff Walker OK buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again …
Gettin' By (Live) Jerry Jeff Walker OK buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again I'm…
Gettin'By Hi, buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again. Gonna try to slide o…
Gettin` By Hi, buckaroos, Scamp Walker time again. Gonna try to slide …
Gonzo Compadres Jerry Jeff Walker, John Inmon, Fred Krc, Bob Livingston Cho…
Goodbye Easy Street Well the sun went down On Easy Street She's been closed do…
Got Lucky Last Night Jerry Jeff Walker Well I was down at the Cotton Club…
Green Back Dollar Hoyt Axton Some people say I'm a no count, others say…
Gringo In Belize Dennis Wolf Well he came down on vacation, 'cause he liked…
Gypsy Songman I'm Gypsy Songman, yes sir, you'd like to hear my…
Hairy Ass Hillbillies This song it was written down In a pea green windowless…
Hands On The Wheel Billy Callery At a time when my world, seemed to be…
Happiness is a Good Place to Visit but It Was So Sad in Fayetteville Jerry Jeff Walker If there's anything in this world you wan…
Harmonica Talk This song is called harmonica talk Pick up your soul,…
He Was a Friend of Mine Jerry Jeff Walker He was a friend of mine, yeah, he…
Head Full of Nothin' Just standin' on the shoulder Of a road I did not…
Help Me Now Hear me now and use your love to listen well 'Cause…
Her Good Lovin' Grace At the start of each day I dread what I face And…
Higher Ground Last night I was dreaming I laying drowning in a…
Hill Country Rain Sometimes I just wake up hummin' Feelin' like the world is…
Honky Tonk Music Every night I play the places Neon lights and smilin'…
How Long Has This Been Going On As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
I I've been a fool, fool hearted, stumbled once or twice You…
I Ain't Livin' Long Like This Rodney Crowell I look for trouble and I found it son Straig…
I Fall In Love Too Easily I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight Gary White I could live my whole life With out a phone…
I Keep Changin' Spent some time up in Oregon, spent some time up…
I Like to Sleep Late In the Morning Some gal told me today Boy you're wasting your life away Y…
I Love You I've been a fool, fool hearted, stumbled once or twice You…
I Make Money One, two, one, two, three, yeah Well, I makes money, money…
I Promise to Love You Jerry Jeff Walker For your birthday, I thought that I'd giv…
I'll Be There in the Morning There's no stronger winds than the one that blew Down a…
I'll Be Your San Antone Rose If they'll play another love song And if that Miller High…
I'm All Through Throwing Good Love After Bad There was a time I was feeling so hopeless, It's a…
I'm Gonna Tell On You [Chorus] I'm gonna tell on you Tell all the people…
I'm Not Strange Keith Sykes Hey, I'm not strange, I'm just like you I like…
If I'd Loved You Then Jerry Jeff Walker Well, I'm not the kind of man who…
It Well, I've been gone for so long Feels so good just…
It Don't Matter Jerry Jeff Walker, John Inmon, Keith Sykes Oh these days, I…
It's A Good Night For Singing Bob Livingston It's a good night for singing, I got too dru…
It's Always You Well, I've been gone for so long Feels so good just…
Jaded Lover Well now it won't be but a week or two 'Til…
Janet Says Janet says it looks like a rainy day today Just another…
Jerry Jeff Walker Jerry Jeff Walker stumbled up the stairs on his way…
Jingle Bell Rock Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh O'er the…
Just to Celebrate Jerry Jeff Walker Would you like to know why I feel…
Keep Texas Beautiful Jerry Jeff Walker Texas in October, is about as pretty as…
L. A. Freeway Pack up all your dishes Make note of all good…
L.A. Freeway ) Pack up all your dishes Make note of all good…
Last Night I Fell in Love Again Last night I fell in love again and I didn't…
Last Song Jerry Jeff Walker Well this might be the last song that…
Layin Jerry Jeff Walker Layin' my life on the line, that's what…
Leavin' Texas Texas this morning the sounds they just sing to me I…
Leroy Billy C. Well, my woman left me yesterday, Sure do need thi…
Let Last night I sat out on the boat dock and…
Let It Ride Well some people take this life They keep it all up…
Let the Ponies Run Jerry Jeff Walker We held a funeral and a wake at…
Life Jerry Jeff Walker, Steady Freddie Krc, Cosmic Bob Livingston…
Life on the Road Last year we went to London and Paris, Texas We went…
Life's Too Short Jerry Jeff Walker, Steady Freddie Krc, Cosmic Bob Livingston…
Like A Coat From The Cold I found comfort and courage in bottles of whiskey I swear…
Little Bird Little bird come sit upon my window sill Sat there through…
Little Man Jerry Jeff Walker Hey little man, you're quite a man, You m…
Little Old Town Called New Orleans Jerry Jeff Walker There's a little old town called New Or…
London Homesick Blues Well, when you're down on your luck and you ain't got…
London Homesick Blues (Live) 1st verse Well, when you're down on your luck, And you ain't…
Lone Wolf Frosty breath on the hillside, see that sun goin' down Track…
Long Afternoons I once knew a woman And she loved only me…
Long Long Time Love will abide, take things in stride Sounds like good advi…
Long Old Dusty Road Seemed like only yesterday, we first drove up that road…
Love Changes Everything Felt like writing a song, one that kind of rolls…
Lovin Jerry Jeff Walker At the start of each day I dread what…
Lovin' Makes Livin' Worthwhile Jerry Jeff Walker I'm just sitting here counting my money W…
Lovin' of the Game Pat Garvey I watched the feather river glide Over shinin…
Lucky Man I woke up this morning feelin' like a million bucks Looked…
Man With the Big Hat In a bar in Arizona On a sultry summer day A…
Manny Jerry Jeff Walker Manny was a maker of hats, Manny was…
May Music Be Your Wings Jerry Jeff Walker Life's calling you son, time to travel on…
Maybe Mexico Ah to be up and leaving this town Heading down an…
Me And Bobby McGee Busted flat in Baton Rouge Waitin' for the train Feelin' n…
Medley Fred Neil Sometimes I think about old Saturday's child And …
Mississippi You I think I see a wagon rutted road With the weeds…
Moon Child I’m a moon child Have you understand I’m not Mr. sunshine …
More Often Than Not More Often Than Not (David Wiffen) Well, have I not been…
Morning Song To Sally As the morning light stretched in across my bed I thought…
Mountains Of Mexico I'm going away to leave you, you said I'm going…
Movin Looking at the clock See it's time to go Time to get…
Mr. Bojangles I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you In…

and many more tracks by Jerry Jeff Walker.

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS