I want to know what the words mean in that song "Iko Iko" (in Rain Man). They are... "Iko, Iko, unday. Jockamo feeno ai nané. Jockamo fee nané." I dont know what language they are so I cant translate, anyone know?
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Chezter is going to save the Redheads
ANSWERS: 3
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i know the song, it also has the lyrics 'my grandma and your grandma, sitting by the fire, my grandma told your grandma gonna set your soul on fire' or something like that, isnt it either hawaiian or from the south sea islands or somewhere like that? Hope someone lets you know as id be interested to find out chezter!
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"Iko Iko" is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two "tribes" of Mardi Gras Indians. The lyrics are derived from Indian chants and popular catchphrases. The song, under the original title "Jock-A-Mo", was written in 1954 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in New Orleans, but has spread so widely that many people take it to be a much older folk song. The song is closely identified as a Mardi Gras song, but it is equally known as a Top 40 hit. The story tells of a "spy boy" or lookout for one band of Indians encountering the "flag boy" or guidon carrier for another band. He threatens to set the flag on fire. The lyrics of the song are based on Louisiana Creole French. The phrase Iko Iko may have been derived from one or more of the languages of Gambia, possibly from the phrase Ago!, meaning "listen!" or "attention!". The line from the chorus, Yock-a-mo feen-o and-dan-day echoes the original title amidst Creole palaver.
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http://www.translatum.gr/forum/index.php?topic=3318.0 That's the best I could find - I've been looking for a few days and just stumbled upon your question. The section of this article under the heading "roots" - about halfway down - is far more informational than what I've seen on Wiki (where the first answer was from). In a nutshell - it's a saying that has been around so long, it is almost meaningless. It seems like some sort of "taunt" - like "don't mess with us" or something. The article says that everything is spelled phoenetically, so, for lack of a better term, the actual words have been "bastardized" over the years. Great tune, though. Hope that helps!
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