The 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

Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance!

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was - down and out
He looked to be the eyes of age as spoke right out
He talked of life, he talked of life, he laughed, slapped his leg a step

He said his name, Bojangles, then he danced a lick across the cell
He grabbed a chair like Fred Astaire, then he jumped up high, he clicked his
heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, s
back his clothes all around

He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs throughout the south
He spoke with tears of 15 years how his dog & he traveled about
His dog up and died, up and died, after 20 years he still grieved

He said 'I dance now at ev'ry chance in honky tonks for drinks and tips
But most of the time I spend behind these county bars'
he said 'I drinks a bit'
He s
his head and as he s
his head I heard someone ask 'Please

I don't know who to turn to
Looks don't look like they used to
Everything that I try
Turns from good to goodbye
I don't know who to turn to
My heart longs for another
One on one with each other
Deep down inside of me
It's so, so easy to see

I want a little tenderness
I need a little honesty
Looking for the open heart
Openin' his arms to me
I wanna fall in love again
To find the love I've never known
I need a little tenderness of my own

I've had just too much of
Of these users using up my love
Deep down inside of me
It's so, so easy to see

I want a little tenderness
I need a little honesty
Looking for the open heart
Openin' his arms to me
I wanna fall in love again
To find the love I've never known
I need a little tenderness of my own

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

Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance!

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was - down and out
He looked to be the eyes of age as spoke right out
He talked of life, he talked of life, he laughed, slapped his leg a step

He said his name, Bojangles, then he danced a lick across the cell
He grabbed a chair like Fred Astaire, then he jumped up high, he clicked his
heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh, s
back his clothes all around

He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs throughout the south
He spoke with tears of 15 years how his dog & he traveled about
His dog up and died, up and died, after 20 years he still grieved

He said 'I dance now at ev'ry chance in honky tonks for drinks and tips
But most of the time I spend behind these county bars'
he said 'I drinks a bit'
He s
his head and as he s
his head I heard someone ask 'Please

When I was nineteen I threw my stuff in the car
I headed up to the Rockies, got a job at this bar
Selling beer to the locals, just barely getting by
On the tips from the rich kids, there on daddy's dime
But when I saw her walk in one night
I knew that I'd be all right in

Telluride, the snow falling down
I was waking up in that sleepy little town
In her eyes my world came so alive
I never will forget the moment she arrived
In Telluride

We spent that whole winter tangled up by a fire
Casting shadows on the cabin wall, drowning in desire
Confessing all our secrets and laughing out loud
So high up on that mountain, I thought we'd never come down
It was a dream we were living in
And I was the happiest I'd ever been in

Telluride, the snow falling down
Waking up with her in that sleepy little town
In her eyes, my world came so alive
I never will forget all those sleepless nights
In Telluride

Telluride, whoa-oh-oh

It ended just like a movie scene
And I had to play the part
Of the lover who stood there and watched her leave
And me with the frozen heart

In Telluride, the snow falling down
Standing there alone in that sleepy little town
In her eyes, my world came so alive
I never will forget the day she said goodbye

In Telluride, the snow falling down
Waking up with her in that sleepy little town
In her eyes, my world came so alive
I never will forget all those sleepless nights
In Telluride