Lyrics
I knew a man Bojangles
The speaker encountered a man known as Bojangles.
And he danced for you
Bojangles performed a dance for someone.
In worn out shoes
He danced wearing worn-out shoes.
With silver hair, a ragged shirt
Bojangles had silver hair, a ragged shirt, and baggy pants as part of his appearance.
And baggy pants, the old soft shoe
His dance included elements of the old soft shoe style.
He jumped so high, he jumped so high
He leaped impressively high during his dance.
Then he lightly touched down
After jumping high, he landed gracefully.
I met him in a cell in New Orleans
The speaker encountered Bojangles in a jail cell in New Orleans while feeling down and out.
I was down and out
The speaker was in a state of despair.
He looked at me to be the eyes of age
Bojangles seemed to have experienced a lot in life, showing in his eyes.
As he spoke right out
Bojangles started talking to the speaker.
He talked of life, he talked of life
He discussed life and laughed, even while in jail.
He laughed, slapped his leg a step
He laughed heartily and made a rhythmic sound by slapping his leg.
He said his name, Bojangles
He identified himself as Bojangles and danced in the cell.
And he danced a lick across the cell
He performed a dance step within the confines of the cell.
He grabbed his pants
He adjusted his pants.
In fettered stance
Even in restraints, he managed to leap high.
Oh, he jumped up high
He jumped up energetically.
Then he clicked his heels
Then he clicked his heels in celebration.
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh
He laughed joyously during his dance.
Shook back his clothes all around
He adjusted his clothes while moving.
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
A call to Mr. Bojangles to dance.
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
Repetition, urging Mr. Bojangles to dance.
He danced for those
Bojangles performed at various venues like minstrel shows and county fairs.
At minstrel shows and county fairs
He danced in different places, particularly in the southern regions.
Throughout the south
He traveled extensively in the South.
He spoke with tears of 15 years
He spoke emotionally about 15 years of his life.
How his dog and him traveled about
Bojangles and his dog traveled together for a significant period.
His dog up and died, he up and died
Both Bojangles and his dog passed away.
After 20 years he still grieves
Even after 20 years, Bojangles still mourned the loss of his dog.
He said I dance now
He currently dances frequently in bars for drinks and tips.
At every chance in honky tonks
He seizes every opportunity to dance in honky-tonks.
For drink and tips
He dances for drinks and monetary rewards.
But most of the time
But most of his time is spent behind bars due to drinking.
I spend behind these county bars
He's incarcerated frequently due to his drinking habits.
Cause I drinks a bit
He admits to drinking.
He shook his head
He expressed disapproval or disbelief by shaking his head.
And as he shook his head
Someone asked him a question as he shook his head.
I heard someone ask him
An unspecified request for something.
Please, please
Repetition, pleading for Mr. Bojangles to dance.
Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles
Another call for Mr. Bojangles to dance.
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
A repeated plea for Bojangles to perform his dance.
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