Mr. Bojangles
Jerry Jeff Walker
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you In worn out shoes Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants The old soft shoe He jumped so high He jumped so high Then he'd lightly touched down Mr Bojangles 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 He lightly slapped his leg instead He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick Across the cell He grabbed his pants for a better stance He jumped so high 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 We danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs Throughout the south We spoke in tears of fifteen years How his dog and him They travelled about His dog up and died He up and died After twenty years he still grieves They said I dance now at every chance and honky tonks For drinks and tips But most 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 please Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles Dance Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Jerry Jeff Walker
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Lyrics and Inspiration- The song "Mr. Bojangles" was written by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker. The song is purportedly about a homeless man Walker met in a New Orleans jail cell.
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Release Date & Chart Performance- Originally released in 1968, "Mr. Bojangles" first reached significant success when The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded the song in 1970 and made it to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Musical Style- Despite Walker's country roots, "Mr. Bojangles" is often classified as folk-rock, blending elements of country and folk with pop and rock influences. The song has a soft, melodic style that contrasts with some of Walker's more upbeat country tunes.
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Song Covers- The song has been covered by over a hundred artists, including Bob Dylan, John Denver, Neil Diamond, and Sammy Davis Jr. Davis's version became a staple of his stage shows, and he is often associated with the song despite not being the original artist.
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Awards and Recognition- The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2020, marking its enduring cultural significance.
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Film & TV- "Mr. Bojangles" has been featured in a number of films and television series, such as 'Whitney' and 'American Soundtrack: This Land is Your Land.'
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Legacy- Despite the success of "Mr. Bojangles," Jerry Jeff Walker has often said that the song was both a blessing and a curse, as it quickly overshadowed his other work. However, it established him as a significant songwriter and helped to shape his career.
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"Mr. Bojangles Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3302125/Jerry+Jeff+Walker/Mr.+Bojangles>.
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