Today’s song of the day is “Rag Mop,” first written and performed by Johnnie Lee Willis and His Boys. It was later performed by the Ames Brothers, which saw its popularity spread even further. It is a fun and simple tune that you will find stuck in your head long after listening.

Fun Facts:

• Many consider the song one of the first examples of proto-rock and roll, which is characterized by incorporating elements of rhythm and blues, country music, and jazz.
• The original singer of the tune, Johnnie Lee Willis, started his music career at the young age of 22 when he joined his brother Bob in the Texas Playboys as a banjo player.
• Tulsa is a special place for Johnnie Lee Willis, and in 1996, the city honored him by naming a street “Johnnie Lee Willis Lane.” The street is located near the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
• The Ames Brothers are widely considered the group that first made the song popular. They first recorded it in 1950, and it was part of a double-sided album that reached the top of the Billboard magazine charts. It stayed there for 14 weeks.
• The Ames Brothers remained popular for decades, eventually being inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in the late 90s.
• Of the four Ames Brothers (Vic, Gene, Joe and Ed), Ed is the last surviving member at 94 years old.

Lyrics:

(LyricFind)

M

I say M-O

M-O-P

M-O-P-P

Mop

M-O-P-P

Mop Mop Mop Mop

R

I say R-A

R-A-G

R-A-G-G

Rag

R-A-G-G M-O-P-P

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

R-A-G-G M-O-P-P

Rag Mop!

A

I say A-B

A-B-C

A-B-C-D

A-B-C-D-E

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H

I

I say M-O

M-O-P

M-O-P-P

Mop

M-O-P-P

Mop Mop Mop Mop

R

I say R-A

R-A-G

R-A-G-G

Rag

R-A-G-G M-O-P-P

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah

R-A-G-G M-O-P-P

Rag Mop!