Mr Bojangles ~ David Bromberg w/ vIDeo of New Orleans 75 years old

DAVID BROMBERG:
"This is really a true story, you know, a lot of people have heard the song, and... Well, at least, Jerry Jeff tells me it's a true... true story.
I played guitar with Jerry Jeff Walker for about two years and we... we did this song every night for two years., and I never got tired of it. Jerry got a little tired of it -- at night, after the clubs would close, we'd do horrible things to it...

'Twas a true story, he... this guy, Bojangles, was a... he was a street dancer in New Orleans, and what he'd do, he'd go from bar to bar and... he'd put money in the juke box, or get somebody else to do it... And then he'd either dance or pantomime the tune. And for that, people would buy him drinks and get him pretty drunk, and then he'd go on to the next bar, and the next one, until it was closing time... and then he'd go on, the next night. After a few nights of this, he'd end up on the corner, and the cops would pick him up and then take him to the drunk tank -- this is where Jerry Jeff met him.

Jerry Jeff wasn't there on a research project -- I mean, the way I got that story, I may have that wrong, but the way I got that is that he propositioned the right woman at the right time and the wrong place -- and her husband, the bartender... called the cops, and they took Jerry to the... Parish jail. And he and this guy just talked for three days in the cell about what've you got... "

David Bromberg's version of this song is my favorite. Try and listen to the end as the story and music are wonderful.

Lyrics:
I knew a man, Bojangles, and he'd dance for you
In worn out shoes.

With silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants,
The old soft shoe.

He'd jump so high, yes he'd jump so high, then he'd lightly touch down.

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

He looked to me to be the eyes of age,
As he spoke right out.

He talked of life, yes he talked of life. He laughed, clicked heels and he stepped.

Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
Dance!

He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
Throughout the South.

He spoke through tears of fifteen years how his dog and him
Traveled about.

His dog up and died, yes he up and died, after twenty years he still grieved.

He said, I dance now at every chance in honky tonks
For drinks and tips.

But most my 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 him, please

Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles
Mister Bojangles,
Dance!

Note: All the people/bands in "tags" have covered this song.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jerry
• Jeff
• Walker
• Mr
• Bojangles
• david
• bromberg
• Harry
• Chapin
• Sammy
• Davis
• Jr.
• Chet
• Atkins
• Rod
• McKuen
• Whitney
• Houston
• Billy
• Joel
• Nilsson
• Bob
• Dylan
• Don
• McLean
• The
• Byrds
• Belafonte
• Frank
• Sinatra
• Bobby
• Cole
• Elton
• Lulu
• Arlo
• Guthrie
• Nina
• Simone
• Esther
• Phillips
• John
• Denver
• Neil
• Diamond
• Toneff
• Robbie
• Williams
• David
• Campbell
• Jamie
• Cullum
• Ray
• Quinn
• Edwyn
• Collins
• Frankie
• Laine
• Cornell
• Dupree
• Croce
• Todd
• Snider
• Michael
• Jackson
• Andre
• Gypsy
• Gerard
• Cat
• Stevens
• Philip
• Glass
• yt:stretch=16:9
• live

[Yrksman]

Absolutely superb...and I agree THE BEST version of this great song.

[curiousgeorge555]

@Yrksman Thanks Yrksman.

[skontch1]

best version of this song you will ever hear...thx george

[curiousgeorge555]

@skontch1 I have to agree with you. thx

[MrTahitijack]

Thanx' Man ..... 

[curiousgeorge555]

@MrTahitijack You got it.

[dwmrye]

Absolutely my most favorite version of this song!

One of my favorite albums was demon in disguise!

[ROCKINHARD772009]

Yep..lotta good versions...yet this is best ever!!!

[jbdmed]

@skontch1 best versiom for sure

[jbdmed]

@Yrksman yes Best version imaginable

[moth2music]

saw him play this live in Vancouver tonite. Thank you david.

[Badgerinthenight]

Yeah def the best version, no doubt about it.

[jbdmed]

saw him do this live at the Ark in Ann Arbor 1971 I'll never forget this version nothing compares