Mr Bojangles Chords
by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band63,259 views, added to favorites 2,023 times
| Difficulty: | intermediate |
|---|---|
| Tuning: | E A D G B E |
| Capo: | no capo |
Author pickinNgrinnin1 [a] 60. 4 contributors total, last edit on Mar 1, 2023
Chords
Strumming
There is no strumming pattern for this song yet. Create and get +5 IQ
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Mr. Bojangles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwuSmDNn05E
Em7 can be substituted for Em/D
[Fill]
e|----------|
B|----------|
G|----------|
D|-0--2--4--|
A|----------|
E|----------|
[Intro]
G D/F# Em Fill
[Verse 1]
G D/F# Em Em/D
I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you...
C D Fill
in worn out shoes
G D/F# Em Em/D
With silver hair, and ragged shirt, and baggy pants
C D
The old soft-shoe
C Bm B7 Em Em/D
He jumped so high, jumped so high
A7 D D7
And then he'd lightly touch down
[Verse 2]
G D/F# Em Em/D
I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was...
C D Fill
down and out
G D/F# Em Em/D
He looked to me to be the eyes of age...
C D
as the smoke ran out
C Bm B7 Em Em/D
He talked of life, talked of life
A7 D D7
Laughed, clicked his heels and stepped
[Verse 3]
G D/F# Em Em/D
He said his name "Bojangles" and he danced a lick...
C D Fill
across the cell
G D/F# Em Em/D
He grabbed his pants and feathered stance, oh he jumped so high
C D
and then he clicked his heels
C Bm B7 Em Em/D
He let go a laugh, he let go a laugh
A7 D D7
Shook back his clothes all around
[Chorus]
Em D
Mr. Bojangles
Em D
Mr. Bojangles
Em D G D/F# Em Em7
Mr. Bojangles, dance
[Verse 4]
G D/F# Em Em/D
He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs...
C D Fill
throughout the south
G D/F# Em Em/D
He spoke through tears of fifteen years how his dog and him
C D
traveled about
C Bm B7 Em Em/D
The dog up and died, he up and died
A7 D D7
After twenty years he still grieves
[Verse 5]
G D/F# Em Em/D
He said "I dance now at every chance in honky tonks...
C D Fill
for drinks and tips
G D/F# Em Em/D
But most the time I spend behind these county bars
C D
'cause I drinks a bit"
C Bm B7 Em Em/D
He shook his head, and as he shook his head
A7 D D7
I heard someone ask him please, please!
[Chorus]
Em D
Mr. Bojangles
Em D
Mr. Bojangles
Em D G D/F# Em Em7 G
Mr. Bojangles, dance!
X×
Mr Bojangles – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
How to play
"Mr Bojangles"
Font
Transpose
6 comments
I've always approached this song from the perspective of a fingerpicker (3 fingers + thumb), without a bass player thumping in the background. That frees the bass player up to accompany with mandolin. Drums with brushes of course. From the opening two lines and then for every verse thereafter: suggest dropping the "D" chord after the G chord, and instead just hold the G note on the high E string and do a note walk down of G, F#, E to your Em chord and then the C chord. Personally, I skip the Em chord too and play a G/B (AKA "G major over B") for continuity's sake. Some guitar players avoid the G/B (it's not hard), and as my fingers are already where they should be from the walk down I can hammer up the B note on the open A string with my thumb then quickly pluck an open D with my forefinger for a nice rolling effect in keeping with the 3/4 time sig. suggest playing the chorus as Em/D/D/Dsus2/D/Dsus2/D x3 with final line ending in G chord as you've written it.lastly, try a walk up on the D string (D, E, F#) while sing the "won't you" ending the chorus with the G ('dance')of the verse, and then carried into the verse.
+1
At the end, play the g to d to c to d then g.
+1
Great tab
0
Related tabs