Paul | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

Mr. Bojangles

“Mr. Bojangles” is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title. It has since been recorded by other artists, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1969 whose version hit number 9 on the Hot 100 in November 1970.

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. Mr. Bojangles had been arrested as part of a police sweep of indigent people that was carried out following a high-profile murder. The two men and others in the cell chatted about all manner of things, but when Mr. Bojangles told a story about his performing dog who was killed by a car, the mood in the room turned heavy. Someone else in the cell asked for something to lighten the mood, and Mr. Bojangles obliged with a tap dance. The homeless “Mr. Bojangles”, who was white, had taken his pseudonym from Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (1878–1949), a black entertainer.

“Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.” – […]

Paul2026-03-11T11:30:39-04:00

It Had To Be You

“Music is only understood when one goes away singing it and only loved when one falls asleep with it in one’s head, and finds it still there on waking up the next morning.” – Arnold Schoenberg, 1934

Paul2026-03-17T08:57:59-04:00

Desperados Waiting for a Train

“Desperados Waiting for a Train” is a song written by Guy Clark and originally recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1973 album Viva Terlingua. It subsequently appeared on Rita Coolidge’s 1974 album Fall into Spring, David Allan Coe’s third album, The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy (1974), Tom Rush’s album Ladies Love Outlaws the same year, before Clark’s own rendition was released on his first LP, 1975’s Old No. 1. Clark stated that the song is about his grandmother’s boyfriend named Jack who was a grandfather figure to him.

The American country music group the Highwaymen released it as a single in September 1985. It was the second single from the album Highwayman. The song reached #15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Nanci Griffith recorded it for her 1998 album Other Voices Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful), accompanied by Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Eric Taylor.

Jason Isbell covered the song for Guy Clark’s induction into the 2015 Austin City Limits hall of fame ceremony.

Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time

Paul2026-03-19T10:48:25-04:00

It’s a Jungle Out There

Paul2026-03-09T15:01:57-04:00

Blue Moon

Paul2026-03-11T16:58:46-04:00

L.A. Freeway

“L.A. Freeway” is a song written by Guy Clark in 1970, a few months after he moved from California to Nashville, Tennessee. It was originally recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker for his self-titled 1972 album; his version reached #98 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” in July 1973. It was later released by Clark in 1975 on his debut album Old No. 1. It has been covered by artists including Steve Earle and Yellowstone actor Ryan Bingham.

“There are no mistakes, save one: the failure to learn from a mistake.” – Robert Fripp

Paul2026-03-11T08:40:35-04:00

clap for the wolfman

“Clap for the Wolfman” is a song written by Burton Cummings, Bill Wallace, and Kurt Winter performed by their band, the Guess Who. The song appeared on their 1974 album, Road Food. The song was ranked #84 on Billboard magazine’s Top Hot 100 songs of 1974.

Background

The song is an homage to Wolfman Jack, who is featured talking in his typical on-air DJ voice several times on the recording, including echoing Steve Miller‘s “pompatus of love” remark from his own contemporary hit The Joker. Wolfman Jack performed the song with the Guess Who in “The Midnight Special” and even in some live dates with the group. On other occasions Burton Cummings would impersonate Wolfman Jack’s voice.

“I don’t think you can ever do your best. Doing your best is a process of TRYING to do your best.” – Townes Van Zand

Paul2026-03-17T09:06:11-04:00

New Orleans Weekend

A trip to New Orleans with Mrs. E was lots of fun and very inspiring! The musician’s tomb in St. Louis Cemetery #1. is available for non-family New Orleans musicians. According to our tour guide, if you have New Orleans in mind as a final resting place, he suggests as a first step, moving here and learning to play an instrument… I especially like the blue note symbol in the center of the cross. The blue note is pretty darn important!

And during some down time on our last day in N’awlens I put this down- “New Orleans Weekend”. Sounds like it has a sort of French influence to me. Or maybe that’s the fried oyster po’boy I hear… This sheet music you can get here

These were written with musescore btw which is FREE! and pretty easy to get a handle on. If you like music and you want to look under the hood a little I highly recommend it.