💎NEIL DIAMOND ~ MR BOJANGLES

NEIL DIAMOND CENTRAL WEBSITE - http://www.neildiamondcentral.com/
Dedicated to Princess Zara (2000–2014). Irreplaceable. Recurring dreams of her over the years, increasing in frequency in the past couple of months, and once again on the 9th anniversary of her passing (March 10), have convinced me that I had to do this video as a dedication to a soulmate. "... I got an emptiness deep inside, and I've tried, but it won't let me go." - NDC

Princess Zara - 2:53 - 3:10

At 5:25 Eucalyptus Erythrocorys bloom each March (Princess Zara's anniversary). Each year a take a cutting of the scarlet buds and place them in front of the framed photograph of Princess Zara
(5:06) to replace the one placed there a year ago.

Eucalyptus Erythrocorys is one of the most spectacular of the eucalypts when in flower. The flower may be 7 cm across with four tufts of golden stamens at each of the “corners” and are in groups of three. The flowers are preceded by large rectangular scarlet buds and are followed by large helmet-shaped fruits. There may be so many of them that they weigh the tree down.

The foliage of Eucalyptus Erythrocorys is dark green and the leaves are sickle-shaped. The bark is creamy with a few rough patches of loose brown bark.
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"The singer-songwriter from Oneonta, New York travelled a lot across the country playing country music. While he was spending his time in New Orleans, Walker had an awkward encounter that sent him to jail. He was slightly drunk that time and suddenly made a public display where he tried to convince a young lady about the reality of love at first sight."

Contrary to popular belief, “Mr Bojangles” was a white guy and not black tap dancer and actor named Bill Robinson.

Jerry Jeff Walker (born Ronald Clyde Crosby) met “Mr Bojangles” while in jail. He was a street performer and had been arrested when police conducted a sweep of indigent people after a prominent murder. This white guy tried to hide his true identity from the police so he used the nickname “Bojangles”.

“Mr. Bojangles” talked a lot of things about him. The most remarkable story he told Walker and the other inmates though was about his dead dog. After this, everyone listening to him turned quite emotional. To lighten the mood in the cell, one of the detainees asked for something. “Mr. Bojangles” was then obliged to do a tap dance to cheer them up.

When Walker moved to Austin, Texas, he was inspired to write a song about the encounter he had at the New Orleans jail. This led to the birth of the song ‘Mr. Bojangles’.

“… and here it came, just sort of tumbling out one straight shot down the length of that yellow pad. On a night when the rest of the country was listening to the Beatles, I was writing a 6/8 waltz about an old man and hope.” - Jerry Jeff Walker

The song is a 6/8 waltz about an old man and hope.

   • A conversation with Susan and Jerry J...  

Mr Bojangles - Story (and Study) of a Song - https://simplymusic.com/mr-bojangles/

Mo Will on ‘Mr Bojangles’ -    • Song Story of Mr Bojangles by Mo Will...  

Artists from Neil Diamond to Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Philip Glass, Bobby Cole, David Bromberg, Tom T. Hall, Jim Stafford, Sammy Davis Jr., Lulu (New Routes), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Harry Belafonte and Robbie Williams, have covered the song.

MR. BOJANGLES (1968)
JERRY JEFF WALKER (1942-2020)
Neil Diamond - Album: Stones (1969)

I knew a man
Bojangles and he danced for you
In worn out shoes
Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants
The old soft shoe
He jumped so high, jumped so high
Then he'd lightly touch down

I met him in a cell in New Orleans he was
Down and out
He looked to me to be the eyes of age
As he spoke right out
He talked of life, he talked of life
He laughed, slapped his leg and stepped

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Dance

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

He danced for those in minstrel shows
And county fairs
Throughout the south
He spoke with tears of fifteen years
How his dog and he travelled about
His dog up and died he up and died
After twenty years he still grieves
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Dance

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

He shook his head
And as he shook his head
I heard someone ask, please
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Go on and dance

NEIL DIAMOND - 1969
Album: Touching You, Touching Me