1965，美國鄉村歌手/詞曲作者Jerry Jeff Walker在幾杯黃湯下肚後，開始胡亂言語騷擾女性，因此被關進了紐奧良的警局監所。在牢中，遇到了位流浪街頭的舞者，述說自己和他的狗的故事，這位白人老兄為了對警察隱瞞身分，稱自己為Mr. Bojangles ( 一般所熟知的Mr. Bojangles其實是位黑人踢踏舞藝人Bill “Bojangles” Robinson，1878---1949。 )。Walker因該故事得到靈感而寫成此首《Mr. Bojangles》，收錄在他1968發行的同名專輯中，單曲獲得告示牌熱門100排行榜的第77名。

翻唱此曲的知名歌手頗多，像是Sammy Davis Jr. ( 小山姆戴維斯，「鼠黨」的成員。)、Bob Dylan、Harry Nelson、Neil Diamond、John Denver……等等，而翻唱成績最好的，則是Nitty Gritty Dirt Band的版本，在1971獲得告示牌熱門100排行榜第9名。由於歌詞太長，各演唱者或有刪修調整。

Jerry Jeff Walker至2018仍有發行專輯，2020因咽喉癌過世，享年78歲，而此首《Mr. Bojangles》仍為其畢生最知名的代表作。

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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, jumped so high
Then he lightly touched down 

I met him in a cell in New Orleans
I was down and out
He looked at me to be the eyes of age
As the smoke ran out
He talked of life, he talked of life
He laughed, clicked his heels and stepped 

He said his name, Bojangles
And he danced a lick
Across the cell
He grabbed his pants
In fettered stance
Oh, he jumped so high
Then he clicked his heels
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh
Shook back his clothes all around 

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

He danced for those
At minstrel shows and county fairs
Throughout the south
He spoke with tears of fifteen years
How his dog and him traveled about
The dog up and died, he up and died
After twenty years he still grieves 

He said I dance now
At every chance in honky tonks
For drinks and tips
But most of the time
I spend behind these county bars
Because I drinks a bit 

He shook his head
And as he shook his head
I heard someone ask him
Please, please 

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