Mr. Bojangles

Oh, I knew a man, Bojangles, and he danced for you In worn out shoes With silver hair and ragged shirt and baggy pants The old soft shoe He jumped so high, he jumped so high Then he'd lightly touch down Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles dance Oh, 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 Now Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles dance Oh, he danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs Throughout the south He spoke with tears of 15 years how his dog and him Traveled about His dog up and died, his dog up and died After 20 years he still grieves He said, "And I'll dance at every chance in 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 Now Mr. Bojangles Now Mr. Bojangles Now Mr. Bojangles, oh, won't you dance?