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        << Back to Bob Dylan Song List
Version 1
            Bob Dylan - Mr. Bojangles
Written by: Jerry Jeff Walker
Dylan's cover released on the album "Dylan" (1973)
OK, basically I find this song easiest to play by fingerpicking. Use your thumb
to play the bass notes on the first and third count of every measure and your
fingers to strum.
C/B   = x2x010
Am7/G = 3x2010
C/G   = 3x2010
G7    = 323003
[Intro]
| C | % | % | % |
[Verse 1]
  C            C/B            Am             Am7/G
I knew a man Bojangles and he danced for you
F            G
 In worn out shoes
C            C/B              Am           Am7/G
Silver hair, ragged shirt and baggy pants
F              G
 That old soft shoe
F             C        E7         Am   Am7/G
 He jumped so high, he jumped so high.
D7                       G   C/G  G7
 Then he lightly touched down
[Chorus]
Am      Em
  Mr. Bojangles!
Am      Em
  Mr. Bojangles!
C   C/B  Am  Am7/G  F  G
Dance ...
[Verse 2]
  C            C/B     Am         Am7/G
I met him in a cell in New Orleans
F              G
I was down and out
   C               C/B        Am        Am7/G
He looked to me to be the eye of the age
F                 G
as he spoke right out
F             C        E7        Am    Am7/G
 He talked of life, he talked of life,
D7                       G    C/G  G7
laughing slapped his leg stale
[Chorus]
Am    Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
C   C/B  Am  Am7/G  F  G
Dance.
[Verse 3]
   C               C/B            Am           Am7/G
He said the name Bojangles and he danced a lick
F              G
all across the cell
C               C/B         Am            Am7/G
 He grabbed his pants for a better stance,
      F                                    G
oh he jumped so high and he clicked up his heels
F          C         E7     Am     Am7/G
 He let go laugh, he let go laugh,
D7                          G    C/G  G7
shook back his clothes all around
[Chorus]
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
C   C/B  Am  Am7/G  F G
Dance,       yeah,  dance.
[Verse 4]
   C                   C/B                Am          Am7/G
He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs
F                G
 throughtout the south
C              C/B         Am    Am7/G
 He spoke with tears of 15 years
F                           G
of how his dog and him just traveled about
F               C        E7     Am    Am7/G
 His dog up and died, he up and died,
D7                          G      C/G  G7
and after 20 years he still grieves
[Chorus]
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
C   C/B  Am  Am7/G  F  G
Dance.
[Verse 5]
   C                 C/B             Am         Am7/G
He said "I dance now every chance at honky-tonks
F               G
 for drinks and tips
    C              C/B                Am          Am7/G
But most my time I spend behind these county bars,
F                 G
 cause I drinks a bit"
F             C            E7        Am    Am7/G
 He shook his head, yes he shook his head,
D7                       G      C/G  G7
I heard someone ask him, please?
[Chorus]
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
C     C/B  Am  Am7/G  F  G
Dance,                dance.
Am     Em
 Mr. Bojangles,
C     C/B  Am  Am7/G  F  G  C
Dance. 
        
                