Mr. Bojangles
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics

I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you
I once knew a man named Bojangles who was a skilled dancer and would perform for anybody who wanted to see.

In worn out shoes
His shoes were old and tattered, evidence of the hard life he had led.

Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants
Bojangles was an older gentleman who didn't have much money, as demonstrated by his worn-out clothes.

The old soft shoe
He was particularly skilled in the art of tap dancing.

He jumped so high
His movements were graceful and almost other-worldly.

Then he'd lightly touched down
After performing his acrobatic feats, he always landed smoothly and with grace.

Mr. Bojangles
A form of address to the man being spoken of.

Dance
A plea to Bojangles to perform his dance for the listener.

I met him in a cell in New Orleans I was
The artist recounts the first time they met Bojangles, who was in jail at the time.

Down and out
The artist was in a similar state of desperation as Bojangles at that time.

He looked to me to be the eyes of age
Bojangles looked like he had seen a lot in his lifetime and had a weary, aged appearance.

As he spoke right out
Bojangles was not shy about speaking his mind or sharing his thoughts.

He talked of life
Bojangles was reflective and philosophical, and would often speak about his life experiences.

He lightly slapped his leg instead
As a demonstration of his skill as a dancer, Bojangles would sometimes drum out a beat on his own leg.

He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick
Bojangles was so skilled in his craft that he could bring himself to dance even when he was alone and in his cell.

Across the cell
Bojangles' enthusiasm for dance knew no boundaries, not even the prison cell he was in.

He grabbed his pants for a better stance
To make his dancing more effective, Bojangles would sometimes adjust his clothing slightly.

He clicked his heels
Another example of Bojangles' incredible tap dancing ability.

He let go a laugh
Bojangles was a man who found joy in life despite the hardships he had faced.

Shook back his clothes all around
After his energetic dance, Bojangles would need to readjust his clothing, which had been shaken out of place by his movements.

We danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
Bojangles and the artist used to perform together at various events, where they would entertain the crowds with their dancing skills.

Throughout the south
Most of their performances took place in southern U.S. states.

We spoke in tears of fifteen years
The singer and Bojangles reminisced about their long years on the road, which were filled with both happy memories and difficult times.

How his dog and him
Bojangles was inseparable from his beloved dog, who was also a constant companion on their travels.

They travelled about
Bojangles and his dog were always on the move, going from place to place in search of work and opportunities to perform.

His dog up and died
The death of his faithful dog was a deep blow to Bojangles, who mourned the loss for many years.

He up and died
Bojangles himself eventually passed away after 20 more years of performing and living life to the fullest.

After twenty years he still grieves
Despite the passage of time, Bojangles remained deeply affected by the loss of his pet dog.

They said I dance now at every chance and honky tonks
In his later years, Bojangles continued to dance whenever he had the opportunity, even if it meant performing in less glamorous settings like honky tonks.

For drinks and tips
Although he was still in demand as a performer, Bojangles had fallen on hard times and was forced to rely on the generosity of strangers.

But most the time I spend behind these county bars
At times, Bojangles was unable to work or perform, and found himself confined to jails and other detention facilities.

Cause I drinks a bit
Bojangles had developed a drinking problem which was at least partially responsible for his struggles in later life.

He shook his head and as he shook his head
Bojangles was resigned to his current situation but still retained his sense of humor and resilience.

I heard someone ask please
The artist recalls that someone in the audience asked Bojangles to dance again.