I know this isn’t technically anything to do with photography, but as with photographs, such videos bring back fond memories, long forgotten. They are a link to people and places that meant something to us.

I just love this song, conjures memories of days gone by. As a child, l loved to watch the movies that Sammy Davis Jr starred in, and through them got to enjoy his persona.

But  I’ve learned to appreciate these artists even more as I’ve got older. Maybe it’s a craving for  my youth, when times seemed less complicated. I’m not sure they were any less complicated in reality, maybe it’s just a fact that now I’m over 50, I have more to look back on than I have to look forward to (heavy that isn’t it, sorry but true). This song has a sadness to it, a sentimentality and reminds me of people sadly no longer with us, that still have a fond place in my heart. I think it’s okay to look back sometimes. Hope you enjoy the emotion of this song. Below are the lyrics to help you sing along if you’d like.

*whistling*

I knew a man,
Bojangles,
And he’d dance for you
In worn out shoes,
With silver hair, a ragged shirt,
And baggy pants
He would do the old soft shoe
He could jump so high,
And then he’d lightly touch down.

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, i was,
While I was down and out,
He looked to me to be the very eyes of age, as he spoke right out, talked of life, Lord that man talked of life,
Laughed, slapped his leg and stepped.

He said his name was “Bojangles”
And he danced a lick right across the cell
He grabbed his pants, took a bitter stance, jumped up high
That’s when he clicked his heels
Then he let go laugh, Lord he let go laugh, shook back his clothes all around

That was Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Lord, he could dance

He told me of the times, he worked with minstrel shows, travelling around the south
He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and he,
They used to travel all about
But his dog up and died, dog up and died
And after twenty years he still grieved.

He said “I dance now and every chance a honky-tonk, for my drinks and tips
But most of the time I spend behind these county bars, you see son, I drinks a bit.”

Then he shook his head
Lord, when he shook his head,
I could swear I heard someone say please

Mr. Bojangles
A-Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Come back and dance, please dance
Come on and dance now

A-Mr. Bojangles,
Mr. Bojangles,
Mr. Bojangles, dance
Come back and dance, Mr. Bojangles…

*whistle*

Songwriters: JERRY JEFF WALKER