Jerry Jeff was a leader in progressive country. His music is a rabbit hole worth falling into, Harri You won’t be disappointed.

A Texas Treasure. I was sad to see him pass away. He was just awesome.... RIP Jerry. You are missed.. :(

Walker said he was inspired to write the song after an encounter with a street performer in a New Orleans jail. While in jail for public intoxication in 1965, he met a homeless man who called himself "Mr. Bojangles" to conceal his true identity from the police.

Jerry Jeff! Now that's a rabbit hole to be enjoyed for sure.

Jerry Jeff was a national treasure, and I was blessed to see him perform several times in the 70s at the old Palomino Club in North Hollywood, CA. His music was easily relatable, from the standpoint of a free spirited rogue. Sadly, we lost him several years ago. Rest in peace, Gypsy Songman. Rest in peace.

Sangria Wine, London Homesick Blues…the list goes on and on…seen him in Texas many times. Viva Terlingua!!!

Others have done great covers but nothing touches Jerry Jeff. Simply beautiful.

I've been playing this song for 50 years. Have had to choke back tears when it gets to the 3rd verse. Especially after my dogs have died.

I saw him in Duluth in 77'...unfortuately he was super loaded.

Thank you Harri, Jerry Jeff was a friend of mine. Appreciate you featuring him and if he was still with us he would certainly thank you as well.

Jerry Jeff’s so young here! I saw him play several times in Austin and finally got to meet him in Fort Worth when I worked a stagehand gig at the zoo, of all places. I volunteered to stay during lunch so I could catch soundcheck, where he played this song, and afterwards he called me over, shook my hand, and said “Hey, buddy, you think you could help me out tonight?” Sure. As soon as “London Homesick Blues” ended I took his amp and guitar cord out to meet him at his truck All he had with him was his guitar, amp, cord, and a change of clothes. Texas license plate said “Scamp”.

Thanks to John for a great choice but I have to say the star here was the reactor. Wow Harri you had me mesmerized. So much respect for you and for sharing your humanity .Well done sir.

I saw Jerry Jeff do this song a few years before he died. I've been to a lot of concerts, but seeing him perform that song was a highlight. Jerry Jeff wrote a lot of great songs and covered a lot of great songs. What gets me though, is your empathy. You're a truly great guy.

Such a great song.

harry--you nailed the reaction beautifully as usual.

Another great song of his: LA Freeway.

Thank you for your reaction to this video. I never heard this song by the composer/lyricist before. It was truly interesting. 👍👍

Jerry Jeff is a huge part of Texas music back in the 70s and 80s. He and many of the artists wrote and performed at Luckenbach Dancehall in Luckenbach, Texas. Along with Jerry Jeff, stars such as Michael Murphey and Ray Wiley Hubbard played and recorded with The Lost Gonzo band. We were lucky enough to see the remaining members of the band play in Luckenbach (we live less than an hour away) last year, and they played so many of the well known songs of that era. I knew so many of the words, and it really took me back in time.

The part where the dog had died and he still grieved after 20 years still gets to me.

Love that song.

His viva terlingua album was one of my favorite 8 tracks!!!

Beautiful, emotional song, grew up on The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's version, with the addictive story telling lyrics. Beautiful original, amazing. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and John. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

wonderful songwriting

this is a song so good several people made hits recording it. from Sammy Davis Jr to Jerry Jeff to The Dirt Band. in 3/4 time no less. and yeah if you ever need a true friend get a dog. they don't judge or lie. it's unconditional love which is all it takes sometimes to cope.

This was always my favorite version, though I liked others. Just something about hearing it from the guy who experienced it. Great reaction too!

Finally jjw. Ty

JJW fell on hard times, drinks too much, goes to jail, meets Mr.B, writes a song & turns his life around. And takes us on quite an emotional journey. TY to both songwriter & subject.

When Jerry Jeff sang that song it stayed sung.

great song and there are so many emotive versions out there

Great reaction. You’re right, Jerry Jeff Walker gave a sad , reflective vibe to this song. Perhaps he drew from his busking days in New Orleans and Texas. RIP Jerry Jeff.

🥰Jerry Jeff...so wonderful and greatly missed.

Jerry Jeff is mentioned in in the chorus of Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson's song Luckenbach, Texas.

Got to see Jerry Jeff Walker in very early 70s . He was very late so John Prine filled in for an extended time telling his stories till Jerry arrived a special night with special people

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band does my favorite version of this song

Jerry Jeff was usually a part of Willie's July 4th Picnics so got to see him then. Also hung out quite a bit at Luckenbach, TX as well as other places around Austin and the hill country. Another grooup who did well on this one is Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Please do more of the legendary Jerry Jeff Walker.

Wonderful! Saw him in person.

This is such a fantastic song. I suggested this one by Sammy Davis Jr way back when. Thank you John and Harri.

❤

You should listen to Jerry Jeff's version of Desperados Waiting For A Train. Excellent storytelling.

Every time ... and I mean EVERY time it gets to the part about the dog dying, I cry.

Most of my life was spent in Austin and Jerry was always playing somewhere. Nicest guy ever. He took Jimmy Buffett to Key West which helped him get started. Jerry was such a treasure. Glad you found him!

Wow

Hey John. This is my favorite version of this song and it’s great to hear it again. Wonderful reaction! Thanks Harri and John 🌺✌️

The reason so many entertainers cover this song is because the “take away” is obvious to them: If you are a performer (say, a dancer?) it doesn’t matter where you are or how you feel…When someone says “dance”….You dance.

Deep song

I discovered a few years ago that I was related to Jeff on my dad's side but I never met him.

Jerry Jeff Walker was part of a band in the late 60’s called “Circus Maximus”. They did a great song called “Wind”. Check it out.

A friend of mine talked me into going too a concert by Jerry. in the late '70s, early '80s. I've been a fan ever since. Favorite song is probably Contrary to Ordinary.

If you get a chance listen to the David Bromberg version.

Thank you John 🥰 Never heard the original 😊🙃🙂🤩 And thank you Harri

I saw him in McDonald gym at Lamar University in the early 70's. Someone donated over twenty kegs beer for a bash before the show. He came out and helped float them while signing autographs.

Nitty Gritty Dirt band made this a big hit in the 70s

Jerry Jeff was one of the greats of folk/country. You should listen to the Pick Up Truck Song. It portrays the simplicity of a morning in rural America.

The way David Bromberg (Jerry's Guitar Player) tells the story Jerry met Mr. B in the Lea High Jail. Jerry was not there on a research project. He met the RIGHT WOMEN at The RIGHT TIME in the WRONG PLACE and her husband the BARTENDER ......

I'm a big fan of Jerry Jeff. A great songwriter. He was part of the outlaw country scene with Willie and Waylon. I suggest 'Desperados Waing for the Train' by him. ☮💜🎶

Jerry Jeff knows the emotion because he met the man. He met him in drunk tank in New Orleans. It's based on an actual story.

Great reaction Harri. Reggae singer John Holt does a good cover of this song. Check it out sometime

John - Good choice in submitting this live version rather than the original version, but that is only my preference. This live version, which I had not seen before. This live version by Jerry Jeff Walker exemplifies the song's and singer's emotional intent. I also found this to be true with the Sammy Davis, Jr and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's live versions. Well done, John and Harri.

if you want to go to more light hearted country from that era check out amazing rhythm aces

I like this version best, but Sammy and The Dirt Band did a good job of making it their own.

Tom Jones does a good version that features Sammy Davis jr in an acting role...

Bill ( Bojangles) Robinson. A famous colored dancer in the 30s I believe. If you want to see the real Bojangles in Action, you need to watch the Shirley Temple Movie The Littlest Rebel I think it's called. He and Shirley Temple do a couple of dance numbers together. The most famous One is when they dance up and down a flight of Stairs. It's amazing to watch. Shirley Temple was just a little girl at the time and she kept right up with him.

You need to listen to the David Bromberg version!

Harri,There's a rendition of this song that you should check out it's, sung by Harry Belafonte.

A great song by JJ. Try listening to his songs "Pissin' in the Wind" and "Up Against the Wall".

Sammy thought that the song was about Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, famous black dancer and actor, as most all of us did. As previously mentioned, it was inspired by a white homeless man that Jerry met in a New Orleans jail after a police "round up" of anyone that looked like a vagrant or suspicious. To conceal his real name he used "Bojangles" as an alias. Back in 1965 the segregation laws in the south prevented blacks and whites from being locked up in the same cell.

Very nice, although Mr Walker did seriously mumble the lyrics this time. Would it be possible to do "Sunshine" by Jonathan Edwards from around the same era? Excellent song; one of those "instant classics" . Thanks again Harri

If you want the absolutely best version, then react to Neil Diamond singing the song. He also sang the best He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother.

David Bromberg version is 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Oooo you shoulda listened to the studio version

Jerry Jeff Walker met Mr. Bojangles (Bill Robinson when he danced with Shirley Temple) because N.O.P.D. arrested Jerry Jeff after he replied to their query about his status that he was a songwriter writing the songs of our great nation. Apparently, that is considered vagrancy by police in New Orleans. He was working on Gypsy Song Man, wrote Gertrude the One-Eyed Hooker while in jail, & Mr. Bojangles a couple of weeks later. Although not a native Texan, he immersed himself in Texas culture & was reborn. He surrounded himself with best of Texas entertainers & songsmiths carving his spot in the galaxy of Texas music with hundreds of Texas superstars from Ol’ Willie & Waylon, David Allen Coe, Guy Clark, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kris Kristofferson, Janis Joplin, Nanci Griffith, Don Henley, Pentatonix….and hundreds more. Just a little interesting trivia but there are thousands of stories about Jerry Jeff.

You should listen to Sammy Davis JR. Version of this song.😊

When you said Sammie Davis, Jr.. I remembered that version, which is what I always heard on the radio as a kid. He could embody Mr. Bojangles as they were both black entertainers. See my other comment.

Red House - Prince

React to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Mr Bojangles

FYI, 1967

The best version of this song is by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band from '71.

Who is that girl that is listening to him?

❤