I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you in worn out shoes With silver hair and ragged shirt and baggy pants the old soft shoe And he jumped so high he jumped so high and 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 and he spoke right out He talked of life he talked of life he laughed slapped his leg a step 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 fifteen years how his dog and him traveled about His dog up and died oh he up and died after twenty years he still grieves He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonks for drinks and for tips But most the 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 Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles won't you dance