I'd heard the the Jacomo finanais....as Jacomo being a FranglasianCajun version of John, and the finanais being the end..Brother John is Gone/Dead.

In the Mardi Gras, various "bands" get together, dress in the similar "colours" of their group, and have a sort of singing contest. This is MUCH evolved from the times when the families/groups used to get together and duke it our for glory. The Brother John song is a great song to get the troops ready to go into battle.

I'll have a look in the record cupboard, I have a terrific version of this type of thing and I can't quite remember the name of it, but the Neville Brothers are on it and they actually go out and sing/fight for Mardi Gras.

Hope this helps, ~Elle