Discover the story of the song > Mr Bojangles – Sammy Davis, Jr.

The song tells the story of a man nicknamed "Mr. Bojangles" who used to dance for people despite wearing old, worn-out clothes. The protagonist met him in a jail cell in New Orleans where Mr. Bojangles talked about his life and how he traveled with his dog, who has since died. Although he now dances for drinks and tips in honky-tonks, Mr. Bojangles still grieves for his dog and spends most of his time behind county bars. The song ends with a plea for him to come back and dance.