Mr. Bojangles (song)

"Mr. Bojangles" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title.

It has since been recorded by other artists, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1969 (released September 1970) and by Sammy Davis Jr. in 1972 Walker said he was inspired to write the song after an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail.

The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his performing dog who was killed by a car, the mood in the room turned heavy.

He also recorded a non-string version in New York City for his album Mr. Bojangles with David Bromberg, Gary Illingworth, Danny Milhon, Bobby Cranshaw, Jody Stecher, Donny Brooks, Ron Carter, Bill LaVorgna, and Jerry Jemmott.

John Denver recorded the song and released it on his 1970 album Whose Garden Was This?, and Robbie Williams covered it in 2001 on Swing When You're Winning.