The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #23200   Message #2696206
Posted By: GUEST,Jdoggtn
09-Aug-09 - 01:22 AM
Thread Name: Jacomo finane? What does that mean?
Subject: RE: Jacomo finane? What does that mean?
I have always theorized that Jockamo Finane meant "Kiss My Ass", although I was never sure exactly why. At least one reason was the context in a Wild Tchoupitoulas song: "If you don't like what the Big Chief say, you just jockamo finane." While it's possible that Jocka-mo could be taken as a proper name (and certainly it is used as such for a lot of Louisiana-themed restaurants), I doubt that it's a proper name, any more than Two-way pocky-way or any other of the Mardi Gras Indian dialect words. The latter phrase has been theorized as being from the Spanish "Kill anyone in front of you", i.e. who blocks your path, which makes the "Kiss My Ass" theory more likely for jockamo etc. After all, these chants, with their references to spy boys and flag boys are describing the Mardi Gras or St. Joseph's Day rituals of Indian 'gangs" confronting each other. These meetings in the old days were often violent, hence the references to "Corey" dying on the battlefield, or "Brother John" being gone. My theory is that these songs relate to specific deaths resulting from Mardi Gras Indian battles of older days (the 1930's perhaps), which could possibly be found in back issues of the Times-Picayune if someone had the time and inclination.