Mr. Bojangles Songtext
von Radka Toneff

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
He jumped so high
Then he lightly touched down

I met him in a cell in New Orleans
I was down and out
And he looked at me to be the eyes of age
And he spoke right out
He talked of life
He talked of life
He laughed and slacked his leg a step

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles dance


He said his name Bojangles
As he danced a lick across the cell
And he grabbed his pants
A better stance
Oh, how he jumped up high
He clicked his heels
He let go a laugh
Let go a laugh
He stood up and shook back his clothes all around

And he danced for those at minstrel shows
And county fairs throughout the south
And he spoke with tears of fifteen years
How his dog and he traveled about
His dog up and died
He just up and died
After twenty years he still grieved

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles dance

He said, "I dance now at every chance
At honky-tonks for drinks and tips
But most of the time I spent behind these county bars"
He said, "I drinks a bit"
He shook his head
And as he shook his head
I heard someone respectfully ask, "Please?"


Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles dance