other songs by Thomas Anderson
cover of Keri Leigh's Arrival CD

"Here's Your Mop, Mr. Johnson"

This song, inspired by how blues and jazz great Lonnie Johnson ended his days as a janitor, was nominated for Best Song of the Year in the 1995 W.C. Handy Awards.

Anderson has not released his own version of this. The first recording was done by Keri Leigh on her Arrival CD. You can listen to the recording by going here and clicking on the song title near the top of the page.


Here's your mop, Mr. Johnson
Here's your bucket, Mrs. Brown
How time has trampled the carpet
So bend those old knees and get down

The Bluebird flew off in the forties
And Henry Speir is dead in the ground
The levee camp is gone, the minstrel show has moved on
And the gin joints have all burned down

Blind Lemon, he was killed in a blizzard
And sweet Bessie was found dead on the road
Texas and Blake disappeared with no trace
And you'll collapse under your load

The uniform is over there in the closet
You'll need it when the weather gets cold
You could play on the street, or you could die on your feet
Or you can come in here and do what you're told

So here's your mop, Mr. Johnson
And here's your bucket, Mrs. Brown
How time has trampled the carpet
So bend those old knees and get down

Keri Leigh and Mark Lyon contributed to this song and are listed as co-authors.