The Nina Simone Web - Songs directory
   Mr. Bojangles
  (1968) Jerry Jeff Walker
   
  I knew a man Bojangles
Always danced with worn out shoes
The silver hair, a ragged shirt
And bare ragged paints
The old soft shoe
He jumps so high
He jumps so high and
Then he lightly touches down

i met him in a New orleans cafè
He was down and out

____________

I knew a man, Bojangles, 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, jumped so high, then he lightly touched down.

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was
so 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, clicked heels instead.

Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
dance!

He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
throughout the South.
He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and he
traveled about.
His dog up and died, dog up and died, after twentyyears he still grieved.

He said, I dance now at every chance in honky tonks
for drinks and tips.
But most of the time I spend behind these county bars.
He said, I drink a bit.
He shook his head and as he shook his head I heard someone ask, please

Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
dance!

 
 
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was formed early 1966 with roots in folk and country music. After four LP, of which only the first had charted briefly, the band decided to break up. In June 1969, however, the band come back together with the single "Mr. Bojangles" by Jerry Jeff Walker, their only top 10 hit.
   
  Recording session unknown
    LP 1982 Artistry of RCA 5193
    CD 1988 Reflections RCA CD 90226 [0:58]
    LP 1989 Laser Plus 22 RCA ND 90324 [4:58]
    CD 1994 Ne Me Quitte Pas RCA 74321196582 [4:58]
   
  Recording studio session 1971 Feb. 2-17, New York, RCA Studio B -- (LP Here Comes the Sun)
    LP 1971 Here Comes the Sun RCA LSP 4536 [4:58]
    LP 1971 Here Comes the Sun RCA LSP 4536 [4:58]
    CD 1993 The Essential RCA 66307-2
    CD 1994 Here Comes The Sun RCA BVCJ-7347 [4:58]
    CD 1998 Sugar in my Bowl 1967-1972 RCA [4:58]
   
  Recording studio session 1974, New York -- (LP It Is Finished)
    LP 1974 It Is Finished RCA [0:43]
    CD 1993 It Is Finished RCA BVCJ-1007 (74321-13636-2) [0:43]
 
Lyrics provided for academic research purposes only. Commercial use is prohibited.
Comments to Mauro Boscarol