Hey now - Iko Iko

I have been watching Treme, David Simon's (The Wire) new show about New Orleans, and Iko Iko was one of the songs last week.  I've always liked this tune, since hearing the Grateful Dead perform it in the 80's.  I have heard at least ten other versions, including Dr John's. 

"Iko Iko" is a New Orleans tune about two tribes of painted up Mardi Gras "Indians" colliding in a Fat Tuesday parade. The lyrics come from Indian chants and local catchphrases. The song, "Jock-A-Mo", was written in 1954 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in New Orleans, but people almost always think it is a much older folk song.  I know I did, until I looked it up today.  According to Wikipedia, "the main melody bears a strong resemblance to the guitar riff in "Son de la Loma" recorded by the Trio Matamoros. "Son de la Loma" was written by Miguel Matamoros sometime before May 8, 1925."






Iko Iko


My grandma and your grandma
Sitting by the fire
My grandma says to your grandma
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"

Talkin' 'bout
Hey now
Hey now
Iko iko an nay
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay

Look at my king all dressed in red
Iko iko an nay
I bet you five dollars he'll kill you dead
Jockomo feena nay

CHORUS:
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko iko an nay (whoah-oh)
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay

My flag boy and your flag boy
Sitting by the fire
My flag boy says to your flag boy
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"

(CHORUS)

(bridge)

(hey now)
(hey now)
(hey now)
(hey now)
Jockomo feena nay
Iko!

See that guy all dressed in green
Iko iko an nay
He's not a man, he's a loving machine
Jockomo feena nay
---o0o---