Intro
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[Verse 1]
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you
E F#
In worn out shoes
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
Silver hair, ragged shirt and baggy pants
E F#
That old soft shoe
E B D#7 G#m G#m7/F#
He jumped so high, he jumped so high.
C#7 F# B/F# F#7
Then he lightly touched down
[Chorus]
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles!
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles!
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F#
Dance ...
[Verse 2]
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
I met him in a cell in New Orleans
E F#
I was down and out
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He looked to me to be the eye of the age
E F#
as he spoke right out
E B D#7 G#m G#m7/F#
He talked of life, he talked of life,
C#7 F# B/F# F#7
laughing slapped his leg stale
[Chorus]
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F#
Dance.
[Verse 3]
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick
E F#
all across the cell
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
He grabbed his pants for a better stance,
E F#
oh he jumped so high and he clicked up his heels
E B D#7 G#m G#m7/F#
He let go laugh, he let go laugh,
C#7 F# B/F# F#7
shook back his clothes all around
[Chorus]
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F#
Dance, yeah, dance.
[Verse 4]
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
E F#
throughtout the south
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
He spoke with tears of 15 years
E F#
of how his dog and him just traveled about
E B D#7 G#m G#m7/F#
His dog up and died, he up and died,
C#7 F# B/F# F#7
and after 20 years he still grieves
[Chorus]
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F#
Dance.
[Verse 5]
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F#
He said "I dance now every chance at honky-tonks
E F#
for drinks and tips
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But most my time I spend behind these county bars,
E F#
cause I drinks a bit"
E B D#7 G#m G#m7/F#
He shook his head, yes he shook his head,
C#7 F# B/F# F#7
I heard someone ask him, please?
[Chorus]
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F#
Dance, dance.
G#m D#m
Mr. Bojangles,
B B/A# G#m G#m7/F# E F# B
Dance.