Jerry Jeff Walker - Mr Bojangles (live solo TV 1969)

Courtesy of the Clark Santee video archive, few songs have such impact as Jerry Jeff Walker's Mr Bojangles, a powerful song covered by Bob Dylan and Sammy Davis Jnr and delivered a global chart-topper for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. At the dawn of the Seventies, a new breed of American singer/songwriters emerged, redefining popular music with classic songs reflecting the times. Jerry Jeff Walker (seen here in 1969) remains rightly regarded as amongst the very best of the bunch.

[markostrovsky]

Must have been around 1970 when we went to hear Jerry Jeff at an Ohio college. He was seated on a platform in a gymnasium & all of us sat on the floor. What a wonderful storyteller he was. Will never forget. Thanks for the memories.

[multimemesingsaysee]

I was a kid but because Mom took me everywhere I got to see my Dad when he covered this in a basement bar in Phoenix (the Jolly Roger)- sang it and accompanied himself on a pared down drum kit. This one and Arlo Guthries City of New Orleans. Always gets me and reminds me of Dad, too. He just passed this time last year. Music is so powerful!

[tjj]

Great song. After 20 years he still grieves. I know what he means. You miss a good dog more than most people.

[simond]

Wow. Song-writting doesn't get better than this. So unique, so moving. And beautiful performance which gets better the more you listen to it. Such feeling. So sad, so true.

[joeherald]

Brilliant. This has a Mark Twain-Stephen Foster-Americana-poetry quality.

[lionsoflisbon]

Only knew of Sammy Davis Jnr version if this. To hear the composer sing and play it is a pleasure. Beautiful song. Great performance.
He covers 35 years of Bojangles life in 2 lines. Beautiful.

[Remtech]

The original and best live performance ever...God bless your soul Mr. walker...

[brianholdsworth]

Blokes like him shouldn't be allowed to die. irrespective of what sort of music turns you on this song he wrote and performed is simply a master peice by any standard.

[alansimpson]

One of the best songs ever and sung so well by Jerry.

[markbreaux]

First concert I attended. He was too drunk to play. Lived the life.

[Amy-bxvv]

I have NEVER heard this sung by this man. I had no idea this song was remade 😊

[johnhummer]

What a beautiful presentation of a song Jerry Jeff Walker has you for such a musical masterpiece!!

[guitartracks]

1969’ WOW !!! first I have seen this Awesome Cover from one of My favorite Artists. RIP Brother ❤️

[josephpastore]

I cant believe there's only 85 likes !

[Lizabeth-li]

Wow. In '69, I was graduating high school. So glad to hear the songs I loved then and love now. Brings back many memories.

[joeherald]

The big Kroger near where we live has a beer and and wine bar. Sometimes there are open mic type local entertainers there. One weekday afternoon while I was there shopping, a young guy sang "Mr. Bojangles" it stopped me cold in my tracks. I'm old enough to remember this song from 1968. I was again reminded of what a brilliant moment in songwriting it is. It's about an actual event in the life of Jerry Jeff Walker. I think it's a masterpiece of story telling.

[PanaDana]

He was from my Hometown Oneonta NY and Yes he did this song first!!!

[charlesjones]

I'm very impressed by this live version.

[RonDoiron-pzee]

I rode all kinds of bikes in my life, at 16, i got an old 45 Harley, that Grandpa had kept in a shed. I was surprised when he said it belonged to my Dad. Being a farm boy, i knew a lot about mechanical equipment. Figured out it was a mageto ignition. Spent about a week, cleaning it, tuning it. Got it running! Smoke like a wet log on the fire. Lapped the valves and put cast iron rings with a spacer. Turned out, there was a small slot on the under side of the seat, i hadnt notice before. In it was an old bill of sale, from Army/Navy store and the ownership paper. PFC. V. C. My Dad’s name! He bought the bike on his return from the second world war!. Amazing how things turn out in life!!😊

[tettazwo]

I knew and loved Sammy Davis junior's version since decades and then learned about the original. It get better every time I listen to it.