Addictedtoclassic Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 Okay, here's this weeks set of lyrics. "Mr. Bojangles" - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you In worn out shoes With silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants The old soft shoe He jumped so high, he jumped so high, Then he lightly touched down I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was Down and out He looked at me to be the eyes of age As the smoke ran out He talked of life, he talked of life Laughed, clicked his heels and stepped He said his name, Bojangles, and he danced a lick Across the cell He grabbed his pants a better stance, oh, he jumped so high, Then he clicked his heels He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, Shook back his clothes all around Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Dance He danced for throws at minstrel shows and county fairs Throughout the south He spoke of tears and fifteen years how his dog and him Traveled about The dog up and died, he up and died After twenty years he still grieves He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonks For drinks and tips But most of 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' Please .......... Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Dance! Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Mr. Bojangles Dance Okay, so a lot of people know this song, but I really enjoy its down-home country feel.
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Posted March 9, 2005 The song is actually kind of a sad one. To me, the character in the song seems to have lost many things in life and all he has left is the dancing he does for others around the area. He's obviously an alcoholic and seems to have very little to speak of. Kind of like a hopeless hobo out on the road.
Uncle Joe Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 You're right. It is sad in many ways. However, he did have quite a career on stage and in movies. Are you aware that Bill Bojangles Robinson was a real person? He appeared as the romantic lead in a movie with Lena Horne in 1937's "One Mile From Heaven". But Dance was his main claim to fame. He is credited with inspiring many dance careers and showing that black men can dance with white girls without the world coming to an end. His several movies with Shirley Temple are probably what he is best known for by most.There are many sites on Bojangles...here're a couple... MR. BOJANGLES and.... BILL BOJANGLES ROBINSON
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Posted March 9, 2005 I did not know that. Gives the song much more meaning when you know a fact like that. It also makes more sense. Thanks Joe!
Elvish Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 It's always reminded me of "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," which is one of my favorite Skynyrd tunes. Such poignant lyrics.
Tenacious_Peaches Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I love this song...it is very sad. I always pictured Mr. Bojangles and the dog travelling the dusty back roads together, not needing anybody but each other. I remember being very upset as a little girl when he talked about the dog up and dying.
Uncle Joe Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I remember being very upset as a little girl when he talked about the dog up and dying. Did it bother you at all that he up and forgot to feed the poor dog?
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Posted March 9, 2005 It's always reminded me of "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," which is one of my favorite Skynyrd tunes. Such poignant lyrics. That is a great song as well. I love songs that tell a story about someone that doesn't live the greatest life, but seems very content with what they have. Stories that can be sad and happy and inspiring at the same time. But the character always seems to die in the end of the song...
edna Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 It makes me sad too... First time I heard it was by Bob Dylan. It´s been credited many times to Neil Diamond (I was it on many magazines... and they were payed for it!) who also did a good cover.
Earth-Angel Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 Very sad song Aaron, almost as sad as Streets of London Never fails to pull a good few tears...
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Posted March 10, 2005 It makes me sad too... First time I heard it was by Bob Dylan. It´s been credited many times to Neil Diamond (I was it on many magazines... and they were payed for it!) who also did a good cover. The song is so great country, I can't picture Bob Dylan doing a cover and definitely cannot picture Neil Diamond doing a cover.
Uncle Joe Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 Very sad song Aaron, almost as sad as Streets of London Never fails to pull a good few tears... Ralph McTell is a wonderful story teller. I love that song. Goes wayyyyyyyy back.
Jenny Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 Sammy Davis Jr. also did a version of this song, did he not? That's the only version I've ever heard. I see it as a sad song about a man whose time in the spotlight has passed so he resorts to drinking and reminiscing about the "good old days".
edna Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 There´s a site when they have that as a joke... everybody´s posting the same answer : Who sings Mr. Bojangles? I did a search myself and fount out plenty of covers...
windy1 Posted March 11, 2005 Report Posted March 11, 2005 Old time country singer Tom T Hall also did a cover. So who supposedly did it first? I knew the story of Mr. Bojangles, about him being a real person. It is sad, but that is what his life had evolved to, and he respected, and accepted that.
Uncle Joe Posted March 11, 2005 Report Posted March 11, 2005 I didn't do a search but...from memory I know the very first time I heard the song it was by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I think they even wrote it. Sammy Davis did it much later, incorporating it into his act with a Bojanglesish dance routine. He did this for several years but not until after NGDB. He even credited NGDB with making the song popular. AMG will shed light on dates, writers, etc. I'll check later.
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 11, 2005 Author Report Posted March 11, 2005 The song was written by Jerry Jeff Walker, a country artist who started out in the late 60's. I'm not sure who actually recorded it first though.
Addictedtoclassic Posted March 11, 2005 Author Report Posted March 11, 2005 So I was listening to this song yesterday in the car and was actually able to picture Bojangles dancing in my head since I had an actual picture to look at (thanks to Uncle Joe). It was very odd, the whole song took on a new meaning this time when I listened to it.
swlabr Posted March 11, 2005 Report Posted March 11, 2005 The version i have is by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I had read that Jerry Jeff Walker wrote that song but had forgotten until i read this thead. I get misty eyed every time I hear it.
edna Posted March 13, 2005 Report Posted March 13, 2005 ATC said:I'm not sure who actually recorded it first though. and I said: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did. Wrong. Jerry Jeff Walker wrote and recorded it in 1968. The NGDB covered it in 1970 in their album "Uncle Charlie" and made it a hit.
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