"Jockamo" is a Mardi Gras Indian chant, from the African-American community of New Orleans and dating back to times when French (and/or various Creole French dialects) was spoken as commonly as English. The song itself is not really (or not entirely) in French ~ Indian "language" is a mysterious patois that only a few initiates understand. Or maybe nobody really knows it at all, but the members of the various tribes want the rest of us to believe that they are indeed custodians of an ancient secret language.

Zachary Richard, or some older Cajun performer before him, adapted this piece from the urban culture of New Orleans and "translated" it into Acadien/French. It is NOT of Cajun or French origin.

I've participated at length in several discussions of this, but lack the time and inclination to get into it right now. Try a forum search on "Jockamo"; several very interesting discussions should be revealed.

Incidentally, in regard to Steve Shaw's post: This is the first I've heard of Jockamo beng associated with St. Partick's Day. In actuality, the Mardi Gras Indians celebrate St. Joseph as their patron and march on his feast day, March 19, just two days after St. Paddy's. In New Orleans, week-long celebrations of St Partick (by the Irish) and St. Joseph (by the Sicilian/Italians AND by the Black Inndians) overlap and intermingle.