Mr. Bojangles

by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

From the album: Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

Track 13 of 21 on Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy (1970).

Duration: 3:34

Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy cover art

Lyrics for Mr. Bojangles

I knew a man, Bojangles and he dance for you In worn out shoes With silver hair and ragged shirt and baggy pants The Old Soft Shoe He jumped so high, he jumped so high And then he lightly touched down 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 the smoke ran out He talked of life, he talked of life He laughed, clicked his heels and stepped He said his name Bojangles and he danced a lick Across the cell He grabbed his pants and feathered stance Oh he jumped so high And then he clicked his heels He let go a laugh, 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 through tears of fifteen years how his dog and him Traveled about The dog up and died, he up and died After twenty years he still grieves He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonk For drinks and tips But most the time I spend behind these county bars 'Cause I drinks a bit He shook head, and as he shook head I heard someone ask him please Please Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance

Listen On

More from Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

  1. Some Of Shelly's Blues
  2. Prodigal's Return
  3. The Cure
  4. Travelin' Mood
  5. Chicken Reel
  6. Yukon Railroad
  7. Livin' Without You
  8. Clinch Mountain Backstep
  9. Rave On
  10. Billy In The Low Ground
  11. Jesse James
  12. Uncle Charlie Interview
  13. Mr. Bojangles
  14. Opus 36, Clementi (John)
  15. Santa Rosa
  16. Propinquity
  17. Uncle Charlie
  18. Randy Lynn Rag
  19. House At Pooh Corner
  20. Swanee River
  21. Uncle Charlie Interview #2 - The End / Spanish Fandango