Mr. Bojangles - 1968 3/4 G A B C C/B Am Am/G 0 2 4 0 4 2 0 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 Low G 3/4 GAB C C/B Am Am/G F / G GAB C C/B Am Am/G F / G GAB 1. I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you, In worn out shoes; with C C/B Am Am/G F / G7 / F / silver hair, a ragged shirt, and baggy pants, the old soft shoe. He jumped Em E Am Am7 D7 / G G7 so high, jumped so high, then he'd lightly touch down. Am / G / Am / G / Am / G GAB C C/B Am GAB Chorus: Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance! C C/B Am Am/G F / G GAB C 2. Met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was down and out. He looked to me to C/B Am Am/G F / G7 / F / Em E be the eyes of age as he spoke right out. He talked of life, he talked of Am Am7 D7 / G GAB life, then he laugh-slapped his leg a step. C C/B Am Am/G F / G GAB 3. He said the name, Bojangles, and he danced a lick across the cell. He C C/B Am Am/G F / grabbed his pants, a better stance, oh, he jumped up high, He clicked his G7 / F / Em E Am Am7 D7 / G G7 heels. He let go a laugh, let go a laugh. Shook back his clothes all around. Am / G / Am / G / Am / G GAB C C/B Am GAB Chorus: Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance! C C/B Am Am/G F / 4. He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs throughout the G GAB C C/B Am Am/G F / South. He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and him traveled G7 / F / Em E Am Am7 D7 / G GAB about. His dog up and died, up and died, after 20 years he still grieves. Mr. Bojangles (cont.) C C/B Am Am/G F / G GAB 5. He said "I dance now at every chance in honky tonks, for drinks and tips. C C/B Am Am/G F / G7 / F But most the time I spend behind these county bars 'cause 'I drinks a bit. / Em E Am Am7 D7 / G G7 He shook his head, and as he shook his head I heard someone ask "Please”. Am / G / Am / G / Am / G GAB C C/B Am GAB C Chorus: Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance! A song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker. While in a New Orleans jail for public intoxication Jerry Walker met a street performer, a homeless man who called himself “Mr. Bojangles” to conceal his true identity from the police. Mr. Bojangles had been arrested as part of a police sweep of indigent people that was carried out following a high profile murder. The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his dog, the in the room turned heavy. Someone else in the cell asked for something to lighten the mood, and Mr. Bojangles obliged with a tap dance. “Mr. Bojangles”, was the nickname used by Bill Robinson, a black tap dancer who appeared in many movies in the 1930’s, including with Shirley Temple in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. After Robinson’s success, many black street dancers became known as “Bojangles.” Sammy Davis Jr. uses different lyrics 3/6/2021 .