From: GUEST,Alta Rigo - PM
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 12:18 AM

Until I saw the words to "Mr. Bojangles" in print, I thought one of the lines was, "He looked to me to be the eyes of Ish as the smoke ran out."
I did not know what ancient deity "Ish" was, but I pictured a tropical island with a huge stone idol with smoke and fire pouring out of its eyes.

Now that I have seen it printed as " ... the eyes of age, as he spoke right out," I have little trouble hearing it correctly.

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The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did sing, "And the smoke ran out," on their UNCLE CHARLIE & HIS DOG TEDDY LP. This was a true mondegreen. I heard them years later and they sang Jerry Jeff's correct lyrics.