Iko Iko Unday

It's more popularly remember as Iko Iko though it's really first sung in 1950s by James Crawford under the title Jackamo. Actually, this song is about the old New Orleans Mardi Gras groups, more commonly known as Red Indians. Each group had a king and colors, and in addition to dressing in fanciful American Indian styled costumes and putting on shows/parades, the groups would "war" between each other - attempt to steal each others flags, etc. I attempted to find the translation for the words in the chorus and got this...

A Victoria Lux explained that The words seem to be creole corruption of Gambian words (iko for ago, un day for amay, etc). Very broadly speaking, they mean: Hey hey! (or Pay attention!) I/we are listening! Joc-a-mo-fee-no-ah-nah-nay means Don't mess with us! We are for real! They are verses in Cajun, from the traditional chants sung in New Orleans for Mardi Gras Indian parade (sfilata di Carnevale delle tribù in costume tradizionale).

Anywhere, this song rocks. All of you definitely have heard it before just never put a name to it... it's also use in the Movie [The Rain Man]. Listen to it.

Jackamo by James Crawford

"My grandma and your grandma
Were sittin' by the fire.
My grandma told your grandma:
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."

(Talkin' 'bout:)
Hey now! Hey now!
Iko, Iko, anay
Jockamo feeno ai nané.
Jockamo fee nané.

"My grandma and your grandma
Were sittin' by the fire.
My grandma told your grandma:
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."

(Talkin' 'bout:)
Hey now! Hey now!
Iko, Iko, anay
Jockamo feeno ai nané.
Jockamo fee nané.

Look at my king all dressed in red.
Iko, Iko, unday.
I betcha five dollars he'll kill you dead.
Jockamo fee nané

Hey now! Hey now!
Iko, Iko, anay
Jockamo feeno ai nané.
Jockamo fee nané.

My flag boy and your flag boy
Were sittin' by the fire.
My flag boy told your flag boy:
I'm gonna set your flag on fire."