Bojangles

[Lightning Rod]

First time I ever heard this tune, I was sitting on the back steps of the Rubaiyat Club in Dallas. I was waiting for the doors to open. It was a summer evening. The Rubaiyat was a small folk club/coffee house. In those days Dallas didn't have open bars or liquor by the drink. As a result there were very few live music venues. The Rubaiyat was one of the few, it was a BYOB club.

I couldn't even bring my own bottle because I was just sixteen or so, but I went there because I loved the folk music.

As I was sitting there a lanky cowboy looking guy in blue jeans walks up carrying his guitar case and a bottle of MD20/20. The MD stands for Mogen-David but everyone knows it really means Mad Dog. He sat down on the shabby steps with me and opened the bottle and offered me a drink.

He told me his name was Jerry Jeff and that he had just written a new song and wanted to come down and try it out on an audience. I said, "let's hear it." So, he broke out his guitar and played this tune for me. It was just me and him and a bottle of MD20/20.

This is my version of what he played:

http://studioeight.tv/musicpost/bogangles.mp3


I knew a man, Bojangles
and he danced for me
in worn out shoes.

With silver hair, a ragged shirt
and baggy pants,
the old soft shoe.
He jumped so high,
jumped so high,
then he lightly touched down.

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was
down and out.

He looked at me to be
the eyes of age,

as he spoke right out.
He talked of life,
yes he talked of life.
he clicked heels in a trance.

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 heeee
traveled about.
His dog up and died,
dog 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 of the time I spend behind
these county bars.
cause I drink a bit.

He shook his head
and as he shook his head
I heard someone ask, please

Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
dance!

--Jerry Jeff Walker