Memorial Day, a holiday to remember men and women who died while serving in the military, originated not long after the Civil War where so many had died. The day became an official holiday in 1971, originally called Decoration Day (and like me you may know some folks who still use that name).
One of the best songs in recent decades about a soldier dying in war is “Travelin’ Soldier,” which was made popular by the Dixie Chicks when it appeared on their 2002 album Home. Texas singer-songwriter Bruce Robison wrote the beautiful song that unfortunately became overshadowed when some people got mad at the Dixie Chicks at the time the song was released.
“Travelin’ Soldier” tells the story of a shy man going off to Vietnam who meets a woman not long before he leaves. He asks her if he can write to her, and he does. At the end, the woman is at a football game when they make an announcement about soldiers who had died and, well, give it a listen if you have not heard the song. Below is a 2005 version by Natalie Maines, backed up by the songwriter Bruce Robison and his wife Kelly Willis.
We wish everyone everywhere a safe Memorial Day weekend.
Photo by Chimesfreedom. Leave your two cents in the comments.
In the video below, singer-songwriter Todd Snider tells a wonderful story about hanging out with Jerry Jeff Walker, who wrote the classic “Mr. Bojangles.” And then the songwriter himself — who was born born Ronald Clyde Crosby on March 16, 1942 in Oneonta, New York — appears with Snider to sing the song.
Video of Snider and Walker
It’s great to see Snider on stage with Walker, as they are both very talented artists who do not get near the acclaim they deserve. So it makes me happy to think of the two hanging out at a bar. Check it out.
The Inspiration for “Mr. Bojangles”
In the introduction, Snider jokes about how Walker came out of jail with the song. And he is telling the truth.
Although many mistakenly believe that the song is about the dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Walker was inspired to write the song by a different man. He met the real “Mr. Bojangles” in a New Orleans jail during the Fourth of July weekend in 1965.
I met him in a cell in New Orleans; I was down and out; He looked to me to be the eyes of age, As he spoke right out; He talked of life, talked of life, He laughed, clicked his heels and stepped.
Walker was in the slammer for public intoxication when he met the homeless man who inspired the song. The man did tell Walker the sad story about the dog, and then he danced.
He Said His Name “Bojangles”
According to Wikipedia, the man did tell Walker he went by the name “Mr. Bojangles.” Apparently, he used the name to conceal his real identity from the police.
A 2000 article in the Post and Courier newspaper, though, claims that after Walker met the man in jail, Walker later added the “Bojangles” name. The article says that Walker used a common name used by street dancers in New Orleans. By contrast, Walker’s biography supports that the man in jail did use the name “Bojangles.”
Either way, the song is one of the all-time classics. Many also may have been introduced to the song by Sammy Davis Jr.’s wonderful version. But I wonder whatever happened to the man who inspired the song and whether or not he ever knew a great song was written about him?
In the video below, Jerry Jeff Walker talks to Bruce Robison about writing “Mr. Bojangles” and plays the song. Check it out.
What is your favorite Jerry Jeff Walker song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
