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 would do the old soft shoe He would jump so high, jump so high And then he'd lightly touch down He told me of the times, he worked with minstrel shows, travelling around the south He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and he They used to travel all about But his dog up and died, dog up and died And after twenty years he still grieved He said "I dance now and every chance a honky-tonk, for my drinks and tips But most of the time I spend behind these county bars, you see son, I drinks a bit" Then he shook his head Oh lord, when he shook his head I could swear I heard someone say please That was Mr. Bojangles Call him Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, come back and dance, dance, dance Please dance A-Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles, dance Come back and dance again Please Bojangles