The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #100788 Message #2026413
Posted By: Metchosin
15-Apr-07 - 10:27 PM
Thread Name: BS: 'nappy headed hos' what does it mean?
Subject: RE: BS: 'nappy headed hos' what does it mean?
Like Q, the first time I also heard the term "jigaboo" was in Rings on My Fingers when my grandfather used to sing it to me when I was small. I always thought the term of British origin and that it referred to those from India and had little, if anything, to do with Africa or North America.
Hence the chorus:
Sure I've got rings on me fingers
Bells on me toes
Elephants to ride upon
My little Irish rose
So come to your Nabob
On next St Patrick's Day
Be Mrs. Mumbo Jumbo Jigaboo J, O'Shea
On the west coast of Canada, later on in my youth, I heard the word used as a derogatory term for the native people here, sometimes shortened to Jig. Sort of took the exotic charm out of the song I found delightful as a child.