Lyrics & Translation of Iko Iko (or Aiko Aiko) Wanted

[John Berger]

All of this talk about Iko Iko (aka Aiko Aiko) made me wonder.....could
someone post an English translation of the chorus? It seems that everyone
around me at the shows is going "Hey Now, Hey Now, Iko Iko <mumble mumble>
[CLAP CLAP] <mumble some more>", and I know that there must be some
significance to the lyrics.

Thanks (second verse, same as the first).....

[Adam Butler]

I have a Dr. John album, "Dr. John's Gumbo", which has Iko Iko on
it. According to the notes on the back of the album, the song was
written and recorded in the early 1950's by a New Orlean's singer
named James Crawford. It is Mardi Gras music. "The song was
originally called 'Jackamo' and it has a lot of Creole patois
(provincial dialect) in it. Jackamo means jester in the old myth."
Sorry--no translation of 'Iko'.

Adam Butler

[ERIC HUDSON]

In article <jberge...@novell.com>, jbe...@novell.com (John Berger) writes...

>All of this talk about Iko Iko (aka Aiko Aiko) made me wonder.....could
>someone post an English translation of the chorus? It seems that everyone

I heard this from an earnest Head a few years ago:
Iku iku comes from a work song of African slaves on Southern plantation. It
is (or at least was) a mixture of English and some West African language.
A loose translation:
Hey now! "What's up"
Iku iku end day "I pray this day will end"
jokamo etc. "Let's kill master!"

Can anyone comment on the accuracy of this???

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ERIC HUDSON "Tomorrow Never Knows"

HUD...@LBL.BITNET