Going back to what CoolBeans first posted - I asked my husband what he thought the phrase meant and he was in agreement with CoolBeans, but with a slightly different twist. He said that when a Democrat makes a suggestion that a Republican thinks is stupid or silly, like "let's end the war in Iraq" or "let's get a good healthcare program here in the USA", the Republican answer is "yea, and lets join hands and sing Kumbaya".
    I think Kumbaya is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and it is made more beautiful when a large group is singing it, whether they are holding hands or not.
    Going back to the 60's: we would ling the most inappropriate words to this song, and I don't hthink I need to tell you what they were!