Mr. Bojangles Songtext
von Harry Belafonte

Oh, I knew a man, Bojangles
And he′d dance for you
In worn out shoes
With silver hair and ragged shirt
And baggy pants
The old soft shoes
He'd jump so high, he′d jump so high
Then he'd lightly touch 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 laughed, slapped his leg a step
He spoke the name Bojangles
Then he danced a lick
'Cross the cell
He grabbed his pants, a better stance
Oh, 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

He danced for those at minstrel shows
And county fairs
Throughout the South
He spoke with tears of fifteen years
How his dog and him

Traveled about
His dog up and died, his dog up and died
After twenty years, he still grieves
He said, "Now I dance at every chance
In honky-tonks


For drinks and tips
But most the time I spend behind
These county bars
′Cause I drink severe"
He shook his head and as he shook his head
I heard someone ask, "Please

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Dance"