I knew a man, Bojangles, and he'd dance for you in worn out shoes
With silver hair, a ragged shirt, and baggy pants, he'd do the old soft shoe
He jumped so high, jumped so high, then he'd lightly touched down
Mmm, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance
I met him in a park in New Orleans, I was down and out
He looked to me to be the eyes of age and he spoke right out
He talked right out, he talked of life, laughed, and slapped his leg and stamp
He said "My name's Bojangles" and he danced the lick across the grass
He grabbed his pants and bettered his stance and jumped so high, clicked his heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, shook back his clothes all around
Mmm, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance
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 travelled about
His dog up and died, he up and died
After 20 years he still grieves
He said "I dance every chance in honky tonks for drinks and tips"
"But most the time I spend behind some jailhouse bars 'cause I drinks a bit"
He shook his head, oh, he shook his head
I heard somebody ask him ...
"Please ... mmm, Mr. Bojangles"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles"
They shouted "Mr. Bojangles, dance"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles"
Everybody shouted "Mr. Bojangles"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles, dance ... oh, dance ... dance"
With silver hair, a ragged shirt, and baggy pants, he'd do the old soft shoe
He jumped so high, jumped so high, then he'd lightly touched down
Mmm, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance
I met him in a park in New Orleans, I was down and out
He looked to me to be the eyes of age and he spoke right out
He talked right out, he talked of life, laughed, and slapped his leg and stamp
He said "My name's Bojangles" and he danced the lick across the grass
He grabbed his pants and bettered his stance and jumped so high, clicked his heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, shook back his clothes all around
Mmm, Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles, dance
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 travelled about
His dog up and died, he up and died
After 20 years he still grieves
He said "I dance every chance in honky tonks for drinks and tips"
"But most the time I spend behind some jailhouse bars 'cause I drinks a bit"
He shook his head, oh, he shook his head
I heard somebody ask him ...
"Please ... mmm, Mr. Bojangles"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles"
They shouted "Mr. Bojangles, dance"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles"
Everybody shouted "Mr. Bojangles"
"Hey, Mr. Bojangles, dance ... oh, dance ... dance"