Mr. Bojangles [Live in New Orleans, 1977]

As you may have gathered by now
We have more people joining us all the time, and, uh

The song was first, uh, taking shape
'Bout two blocks from here
In the 1st precinct jail

I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you
In worn out shoes
Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants
He's in the old soft shoe

He jumped so high
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
Talked of life
He laughed, slapped his leg and stepped

He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick
Across the cell
He grabbed his pants a better stance
Then he jumped up high, he clicked his heels

He let go a laugh
Oh, he let go a laugh
Shook back his clothes all around

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Oh, dance

Danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
Throughout the south
Spoke with 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

He said, "I dance now at every chance in honky tonks
For drinks and tips
But most the time I spend behind these county bars
Hell, I drinks a bit"

He shook his head and as he shook his head
I heard someone ask, "Please?"

Oh, Mr. Bojangles
Oh, Mr. Bojangles
Oh, Mr. Bojangles
Oh, dance

Yeah, I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you

Thank you
Here's to the dock, I swam a lake, near lost a feather, man
This time, another year, we'll all be together