Verse 1:
C Em Am A7
I knew a man Bo-jangles and he’d dance for you,
F G G7
In worn out shoes
C Em Am A7
With silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants
F G G7
The old soft shoe
F C E7 Am A7 D
He jumped so high, he jumped so high
G G7 Am
Then he lightly touched down.
Chorus:
Am G Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles Mr. Bo-jangles
Am G C Em Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles dance
Verse 2:
C Em Am A7
I met him in a cell in New Orleans I was
F G G7
down and out
C Em Am A7
He looked at me to be the eyes of age as he
F G G7
Spoke right out
F C E7 Am A7 D
He talked of life, talked of life,
G G7 Am
He laughed, slapped his leg a step.
ChorusS:
Am G Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles Mr. Bo-jangles
Am G C Em Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles dance
Verse 3:
C Em
He said his name, Bo-jangles,
Am A7
then he danced a lick
F G G7
across the cell
C Em
He grabbed his pants for a better stance,
Am A7
then he jumped so high,
F G G7
He clicked his heels
F C E7 Am A7 D
Then he let go a laugh, let go a laugh,
G G7 Am
Shook back his clothes all around.
Chorus:
Am G Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles Mr. Bo-jangles
Am G C Em Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles dance.
Verse 4:
C Em Am A7
He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs,
F G G7
Throughout the South.
C Em Am
He spoke with tears of 15 years how his dog and him
F G G7
Travelled about
F C E7 Am A7 D
His dog up and died, he up and died,
G G7 Am
And after 20 years he still grieved.
Chorus:
Am G Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles Mr. Bo-jangles
Am G C Em Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles dance.
Verse 5:
C Em Am A7
He said “I dance now at every chance in honky tonks
F G G7
For drinks and tips
C Em Am A7
But most the time I spend behind these county bars
F G G7
For I drinks a bit.”
C E7 Am A7 D
He shook his head, and as he shook his head
G G7 Am
I heard someone ask “Please.”
Chorus:
Am G Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles Mr. Bo-jangles
Am G C Em Am G
Mr. Bo-jangles dance.
