Mr. Bojangles

I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you In worn out shoes Silver hair, ragged shirt and baggy pants That old soft shoe He'd jump so high, he'd jump so high Then he'd lightly touch down Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Dance I met him in a cell in New Orleans I was down and out He looked to me to be the eyes of age As he spoke right out He talked of life, he talked of life Laughing slapped his leg stale Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Dance He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick All across the cell He grabbed his pants for a better stance Oh, he jumped so high and he clicked up his heels He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh Shook back his clothes all around Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Dance, yeah, dance He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs Throughout the south He spoke with tears of 15 years of how his dog and him Just traveled all about His dog up and died, he up and died And after 20 years he still grieves Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Dance He said, "I dance now at every chance at honky-tonks For drinks and tips But most of the time I spend behind these county bars Because I drinks a bit" He shook his head, and he shook his head I heard someone ask him, "Please Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Dance, dance Mr. Bojangles, dance"