I’ve wanted to revisit Jerry Jeff Walker for a long time. I picked an easy one, but the song has always meant a lot to me. It’s for the personal connection that I picked this one. I first heard this song by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but I love this version as well. Only a few songs can make me feel emotional, and this one does. The song gets me emotionally involved with the story, and then comes the line, his dog up and died. I can feel that, and it hurts every time.
The inspiration for the song started in the mid-60s, before Walker was known. He was passing through New Orleans and ended up spending a night in a jail cell on a minor charge. While there, he met an older man who began talking to pass the time. The man said his name was Mr. Bojangles, not his real name, but as something he used to avoid giving his identity to the police.
During the conversation, the man talked about his life as a street dancer. He described performing for tips, moving from place to place, and how he used dance to get by. At one point, the mood shifted. He spoke about his dog that had died, and how that loss affected him. Then, almost as a way to break the tension in the cell, he started tapping and dancing a little. This meeting stayed with Walker.
After getting out, Walker wrote the song based on that encounter. He didn’t try to document the man exactly. Instead, he shaped the story into something broader, a character built from memory. The name itself came from the man’s habit of using it in place of his real one, which also echoed the stage name of dancer Bill Robinson, though the song is not about Robinson. I thought it was when I found out about Robinson.
This song has stood the test of time. I hardly use that worn-out phrase, but it does. Just like some movies are classics, this is because of that story. It’s a great story song, and you get a full look at the characters. It’s some excellent songwriting in that.
Walker was born in New York but drifted around the country in the 60s. In the early 1970s, Walker relocated to Austin, Texas, where he became part of the burgeoning outlaw country music scene. He helped define that genre. He was part of the Texas songwriters such as Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. He is not technically a natural-born Texas singer-songwriter, but he is remembered by many as one.
Walker recorded the first version of the song, and it peaked at #77 on the Billboard 100 in 1968. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded their version the next year, releasing it in 1970, and it peaked at #9 on the Billboard 100, #2 in Canada, and #2 in New Zealand in 1971.
Mr Bojangles
I knew a man Bojangles and he’d dance for you
In worn out shoes
Silver hair and ragged shirt and baggy pants
He did the old soft shoe
He jumped so high
He jumped so high
Then he’d lightly touch down
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 said the name Bojangles and he danced
A lick across the cell
He grabbed his pants a better stance
Then he jumped so high
He clicked his heels
He let go a laugh oh he let go a laugh
Shook back his clothes all around
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister 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
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 o’ 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 him please
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Dance
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Classic! 😎💯
It’s a classic, top songwriting and a memorable and sad story. One that doesn’t go down that familiar old hokey Country maudlin route of the 60’s-70s, it is just a sad song and that works well enough.
It sure is sad…but I never get tired of it. Yes…in the hands of a lesser songwriter it could have turned corny….one of my favorite story songs of all time.
(There’s the too soppy and sad eyed songs like ‘Old Shep,’ I can’t fall for that kind of thing, or at least I haven’t since I was about seven or so. Even Elvis can’t rescue this turgid dogs tale. Give me something like ‘Move It On Over’ any day.)
Oh yea….Move It On Over…that hits great. You were right though….there are not too many good songs with dogs. You have to hunt for them
How did I not know this isn’t about Bill Robinson but a random guy Walker met in jail? And David Bromberg quietly off to the side playing the hell out of this song until they finally cut to him for a solo. One of the hottest shows I recall was David Bromberg some time in the 70s.
Almost feels like Bromberg is living the song as he plays. Fantastic!
Long time JJW fan. Love this song in its many incarnations. And keeping with the dog theme I see!
Mr. Bojangles is the first real story song that I remember being popular. It is very sad when the dog dies.
It gets me every single time…like the end of It’s A Wonderful Life…never fails.
well written song that does seem timeless…before I knew, I might have guessed it dated back to the Depression era not the late-60s. I grew up hearing the NGDB version which I favor but it’s good to hear the original too.
sounds like a story chapter…did anyone make a movie about ‘Bojangles’ life?
Well…you are probably half right…the guy he met was probably from that era…it sounds like it. Such a well written song and melody.
Now, that is a name I haven’t heard in years. Mr. Bojangles was a sad song. As a side note, I have been to Luckenbach, TX. It is a spot in the road.
Yea when I think of that town …I hear Waylon Jennings
“Because I drinks a bit”. I’m tearing up. Jerry Jeff is staple in my house.
You know CB….I wanted to cover him and I hate that I picked the most obvious one…but today it fit. If he only would have wrote this song…he would still be a legend. One of the most perfect story songs ever.
Hey Im a big Jerry Jeff guy. You are forgiven for the pick. It has the same effect on me. You had to do it. The song just catches a moment in Walkers life. We are lucky he shared that story with us.
When you talk about somebody like Jerry Jeff Walker, there is no obvious one. . He recorded so many wonderful, timeless songs. This is a great choice.
I don’t drink. Never cared for the stuff. But when I think about drinking, it is always that line, “I drinks a bit.” Perfect.
I think Bill was downplaying the amount.
Ya think?
Yea I don’t drink either. I may have 2-3 beers a year…mostly every 2 years.
I picked the most obvious one but it fit me today.
Great song. Thanks.
I’m a big fan of Uncle Charlie and his Dog Teddy album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
I always thought the Sammy Davis Jr. version made a lot of sense for Mr. Davis.
Have grown to love Bromberg’s performing this tune on his own.
Like I said, great song
Such a great song! The first version I recall hearing was by Sammy Davis Jr. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came many years later. I neither knew the background story nor Jerry Jeff Walker’s original – great to learn about both!
Wow…I didn’t know Sammy covered it! It’s cool to know there was an actual person behind this song…a real life Mr Bojangles.
This is an awesome story. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
Old Gold. It doesn’t get any better than this. It gets me every time.
It gets me every time as well.
(Sorry Randy, I commented on your site after flipping over from Max’s one about Dogs, but then I think the comment still works in what I believe is that way too maudlin side and sentimental of some Country music. Some just leaves this hard bitten crusty ol’ whiner rolling his hard flinty dry eyes!)
…Jeez, what site am I on NOW? Sorry Max. I’ve been skipping back and forth on various sites this morning and not knowing who or what I’m talking about!!! I’ll just put out a blanket apology to Max, Dave, Randy and whoever else’s site I crashed in on today! 🙄 Sheesh!!!
I’ve done it before! I saw your comment to Randy so I thought I would leave it alone. I figured you were posting on the wrong one…but I didn’t have the heart to tell you! lol.
A well-deserved classic. Heard the NGDB version first, but came across Jerry Jeff years later. Of course the dog line makes it. A great writer. Good thing I proofread this. The speller anticipated “Jerusalem Jeff” instead of Jerry Jeff.
LOL…that would have been funny. Yea that line gets to me every single time but yea….it makes the song.
I’d only heard the Neil Diamond version. Unsurprisingly, this one is a bit cooler.
Sorry it took me this long to reply…I never heard Neil Diamonds version…only the Nitty Gritty Dirt Bands hit.