I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you
In worn out shoes
Silver hair, ragged shirt and baggy pants
That old soft shoe
He jumped so high, he jumped so high.
Then he lightly touched down
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 eye of age
as he spoke right out
He talked of life, he talked of life,
laughing slapped his leg stale
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles,
dance.
He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick
all across the cell
He grabbed his pants for a better stance,oh he jumped so high
and he clicked up his heels
He let go laugh, he let go laugh,
shook back his clothes all around
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles,
dance, yeah, dance
He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
throughtout the south
He spoke with tears of 15 years of how his dog and him
just traveled about
His dog up and died, he up and died,
and after 20 years he still grieves
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 spend behind these county bars,
cause I drinks a bit"
He shook his head, yes he shook his head,
I heard someone ask him, please?
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles,
dance, dance, Mr Bojangles, dance.