In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He returned to the Dirt Band in 2001, departing the band once again in late 2017.
Recently, he has also been playing smaller venues with his son, Nathan McEuen.
Mr. Bojangles
John McEuen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he danced for you
In worn out shoes
With silver hair, a ragged shirt
And baggy pants, the old soft shoe
He jumped so high, he jumped so high
Then he lightly touched down
I was down and out
He looked at me to be the eyes of age
As he spoke right out
He talked of life, he talked of life
He laughed, slapped his leg a step
He said his name, Bojangles
And he danced a lick across the cell
He grabbed his pants
In fettered stance
Oh, he jumped up high
Then he clicked his heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh
Shook back his clothes all around
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
He danced for those
At minstrel shows and county fairs
Throughout the south
He spoke with tears of 15 years
How his dog and him traveled about
His dog up and died, he up and died
After 20 years he still grieves
He said I dance now
At every chance in honky tonks
For drink and tips
But most of the time
I spend behind these county bars
Cause I drinks a bit
He shook his head
And as he shook his head
I heard someone ask him
Please, please
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
John McEuen’s “Mr. Bojangles” is a poignant and bittersweet ode to a colorful character with whom he has an encounter in a New Orleans jail cell. The song is about a man named Bojangles, who danced for those who were willing to watch him, in spite of his ragged appearance and worn-out shoes. McEuen remarks on Bojangles’ skills and ability to dance “the old soft shoe”. The dancer’s jumps were so high, yet he would always land lightly on his feet.
The chorus repeats his name, as if to emphasize the grandeur of his performance. Bojangles is described as someone who has travelled a lot and has a dog, who unfortunately passed away. Furthermore, “Mr. Bojangles” was a prominent performer in minstrel shows and county fairs throughout the southern United States, although dancing was not his only talent. Bojangles was an articulate individual who shared stories about his life with interest among those whom he met. He fondly associated dancing with the consumption of alcohol, which led him to spend most of his life behind county bars, always looking for opportunities to drink and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a man Bojangles
I once knew a man named Bojangles
And he danced for you
He was known for his dancing skills and would perform for others
In worn out shoes
His shoes were old and worn from years of dancing
With silver hair, a ragged shirt
He had gray hair and wore a shirt that was tattered and worn
And baggy pants, the old soft shoe
His pants were loose and he was known for his soft-shoe dancing
He jumped so high, he jumped so high
He would jump high into the air while dancing
Then he lightly touched down
He would land gently and gracefully after jumping
I met him in a cell in New Orleans
I first encountered him while we were both in a jail cell in New Orleans
I was down and out
I was feeling depressed and hopeless at the time
He looked at me to be the eyes of age
Despite his old age, he seemed wise and experienced to me
As he spoke right out
He spoke candidly and honestly
He talked of life, he talked of life
He spoke about his experiences and lessons learned throughout his life
He laughed, slapped his leg a step
He laughed and then tapped his leg to the beat of the music
He said his name, Bojangles
He introduced himself as Bojangles
And he danced a lick across the cell
He danced a few steps in the small space of the cell
He grabbed his pants
He picked up his loose-fitting pants
In fettered stance
He was standing with his feet chained together
Oh, he jumped up high
He leaped into the air once again
Then he clicked his heels
He met his heels together while jumping
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh
He laughed heartily and couldn't stop laughing
Shook back his clothes all around
He shook his clothes to straighten them out after dancing
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
Addressing Bojangles respectfully
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
Asking Bojangles to dance
He danced for those
He performed for various audiences
At minstrel shows and county fairs
His performances were at events like minstrel shows and county fairs
Throughout the south
He traveled all over the southern part of the United States
He spoke with tears of 15 years
He cried when he talked about the 15 years he spent traveling with his dog
How his dog and him traveled about
He and his dog were constant companions while traveling
His dog up and died, he up and died
His dog died suddenly, which greatly affected Bojangles
After 20 years he still grieves
Even though 20 years had passed, he still felt the loss of his dog deeply
He said I dance now
He explained that he still danced
At every chance in honky tonks
He performed in honky tonk bars whenever he had the opportunity
For drink and tips
He danced for alcohol and money
But most of the time
However, for the most part
I spend behind these county bars
He was confined to county jails for various reasons
Cause I drinks a bit
His drinking was the reason he ended up in jail often
He shook his head
He shook his head in disagreement or disapproval
And as he shook his head
While he shook his head
I heard someone ask him
I overheard someone ask him
Please, please
The person was pleading with him for something
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
Addressing Bojangles politely
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
Asking Bojangles to dance once more
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jerry Jeff Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind