Mr. Bojangles (song)

For the 1936 song, see Bojangles of Harlem.

"Mr. Bojangles"
Single by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
from the album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy
B-side	"Buy for Me the Rain"
Released	November 1970
Genre	Country
Length	3:37
Label	Liberty
Writer(s)	Jerry Jeff Walker
Producer	William McEuen
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band singles chronology
"Buy Me for the Rain" (1967) "Mr. Bojangles" (1970) "House at Pooh Corner" (1971)

Mr. Bojangles is the title of a song originally written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title. Since then, it has been covered by many other artists, including American country music band The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, whose version (recorded for the 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy) was issued as a single and rose to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart in 1971.

Content

Walker has said he was inspired to write the song after an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail and does not refer to the famous stage and movie personality Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Walker said while in jail for public intoxication in 1965, he met a homeless white man who called himself "Mr. Bojangles" to conceal his true identity from the police. He had been arrested as part of a police sweep of indigent people that was carried out following a high-profile murder. The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his dog, the mood in the room turned heavy. Someone else in the cell asked for something to lighten the mood, and Mr. Bojangles obliged with a tap dance.^[1][2]

The song is notated in two aurally equivalent time signatures, 3/4 and 6/8.

Recorded versions

Walkers' song has been re-recorded by many popular artists, including Kristofer Åström, Chet Atkins, Hugues Aufray (French version, 1984), Harry Belafonte, Bermuda Triangle Band, David Bromberg, The Byrds, J.J. Cale, David Campbell, Harry Chapin, Bobby Cole, Edwyn Collins, Jim Croce, Jamie Cullum, King Curtis, Sammy Davis Jr., John Denver, Neil Diamond, Cornell Dupree, Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Tom T. Hall, John Holt, Whitney Houston, Queen Ifrica, Billy Joel, Elton John, Frankie Laine, Lulu, Rod McKuen, Nina Simone, Don McLean, MC Neat, Harry Nilsson, Esther Phillips, Ray Quinn, Frank Sinatra, Todd Snider, Cat Stevens, Jim Stafford, Radka Toneff, Jamie Walker and Robbie Williams.

The song and dance featured in the 1991 West End & Broadway theatre show Fosse.

Furthermore, composer Philip Glass makes reference to "Mr. Bojangles" in his minimalist opera Einstein on the Beach.

Jim Carrey also performed this song in his earlier stand up routines and in his first movie Copper Mountain.

Chart positions

Jerry Jeff Walker

Chart (1970)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	77

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Chart (1971)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	9
Canadian RPM Top Singles	2

References

1. ^ Walker, Jerry Jeff (2000). Gypsy Songman. Woodford Press. ISBN 978-0942627572. 
2. ^ The Man Who Was Bojangles. BBC Radio 4. 11.30, 23rd August, 2008