hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?

Subject: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From:
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 09:29 PM

Please help me findthe origin of this song. Who wrote it? Or who recorded it? Lyrics? I remember it well but thewords have faded into old age please e-mail me [e-mail]

Than

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Mark Roffe
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 09:44 PM

The Shirelle's popular version of the 60's was based on the original. Although I can't remember much about the original, the Shirelle's version went (phonetically): Hey now, hey now, ako ako anday. Chockamo fino an an day, chocamo fin anday. See the man all dressed in green, ako ako anday. He's not a man, he's a rubbing machine, chocamo fin anday. Hey now...etc... I once knew them all...if no one else comes up with them, I'll dredge them out of my quagmire mind.

Mark

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Ronn
Date: 22 Mar 99 - 10:47 PM

The origins of this song go back way before the recording era to around the same time as the origin of the Mardi Gras Indians. The song most like the one we know today was originally recorded by Sugar Boy Crawford as "Jock-a-mo" in 1953. The first version to enter popular consciousness was by The Dixie Cups around 1965 (revived by the movie "Rain Man"). My own personal favourite is Dr John's from around 1972.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: alison
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 02:05 AM

Hi,

It was redone in the 70's (punkish band).. in the UK,... can't remeber the name but possibly Bow wow wow..... think they also did "I want candy".

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 02:49 AM

It wasn't Bow Wow Wow, it was Amazulu - not that that matters, go with Dr John!

Brian

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: alison
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 08:51 AM

Ah yes..... it's all coming back to me now....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: mkaye
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 11:35 AM

It was also a staple for a while in Grateful Dead live performances in the late 70's to early 80's time frame. Don't think it made it onto anything other than bootlegs (although it could be included in one of the Dick's Picks series).

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 02:45 PM

If you're searching for it somewhere, the title I know is "Iko Iko".

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Apr 99 - 06:45 PM

Click here and here for versions from Lyrics World.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: Iko Iko
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 03:45 PM

Iko-Iko
(Marilyn Jones, Sharon Jones, Joe Jones, Jessie Thomas, 1965)
(Recorded by The Dixie Cups )

My grandma and your grandma were sittin' by the fire
My grandma told your grandma:
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"

Talkin' 'bout, Hey now! Hey now! I-KO I-KO un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-ne
Jock-a-mo fee-na-ne

Look at my king all dressed in red , I-KO I-KO un-day
I betcha five dollars he'll kill you dead
Jock-a-mo fee-na-ne
(chorus) =


My flag boy and your flag boy were sittin' by the fire
My flagboy told your flagboy:
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"
(chorus)

See that guy all dressed in green? I-KO I-KO un-day
He's not a man, he's a lovin' machine
Jock-a-mo fee-na-ne
(chorus) =

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Gary T
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 09:28 PM

I've always liked this song, but have no clue as to what, if anything, it means. Anyone know what kind of flag we're talking about? What's a flag boy? Is there any significance to the king, or is it just a variation of "man"? And "iko iko", "jock-a-mo", etc.--nonsense syllables? Gullah? A distortion of Gullah or of some other language?

If anyone can shed some light on this, I'd be grateful.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 09:42 PM

G'day all,

I recently heard an episode of the (Australian) ABC Music program where the presenter had gone to New Orleans for a Festival and had recorded a number of interesting interviews - including one with a lady from the Dixie Cups. She talked at length about this song ... the gist of it was that this was something they did with a family song (from her mother?) and they where mucking around with an a cappella version where they did a lot of instrument imitations while the band was taking a break. The record producer heard it, loved it and got them to put it down on the record.

I gather the "Indians" references all go back to a period of New Orleans history when the displaced AmerIndians and the black population ahd much more in common that with the whites and customs (and Voodoo religious beliefs) mingled and reformed.

I don't imagine our presenter came up with anything not already known about the traps, but it was interesting to learn something about this enigmatic song.

Regards,

Bob bolton

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: jeanenepratt
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 07:36 PM

I think the PBS program said it was in the Gullah street language.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 09:38 PM

I've heard that it was taunting between tribes.

Rich

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 10:46 PM

Apparently somebody just refreshed this thread, which has a wealth of information on the song. There are a few more threads kicking around as well.

I don't think we'll ever resolve the issue of how to get people to search to see if their question has been answered on a previous thread, or even, as has been recently brought up as a minority opinion, whether we should encourage that at all. (The feeling expressed was that refreshing long threads tends to encourage people to post redundant info because they don't want to read the whole long thread). This will no doubt continue to be one of the unavoidable bumps on the byways of Mudcat. And that's fine with me.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 10:59 PM

oops, my link went to the middle of the thread...but you get the idea.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: LR Mole
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 04:32 PM

I don't knowe about "Rain Man", but it was used in the film "The Big Easy". Maybe over the credits.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,Toledo
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 04:49 PM

I'm sorry, but every time I read this thread title, I don't hear the Iko, Iko version...

I hear "Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over..."

Now what the hell song is THAT? I don't remember it, just that one bit...

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 06:30 PM

On the Red Bird label. You could hear the cutter start on the lead-in. Also the bass guitar (or maybe double bass) was slightly out of tune. And was the "click- click" bones, woodblocks, or what?

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Armen Tanzerian
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 01:07 AM

My "definitive" version would be by the Neville Brothers, who used to kill this song in live performance. Didn't they or the Meters ever record it? (I once tried to get "IKOIKO" put on a licence plate -- but somebody already had it. Dang.)

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 01:21 AM

Mardi Gras Indians, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, recorded "Brother John" with the help of the Meters and the Nevilles. The tune is the same and the words are very similar.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Peter T.
Date: 15 Aug 01 - 09:54 AM

Can the incomprehensible bits really be in Gullah? That would be amazing. I can't find any reference to it on the PBS Web Site. Any Gullah experts out there? yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 01:45 AM

Nope, not Gullah/Geechee. Here's what the luverly Neville folks have to say:

"The song was originally called 'Jockamo,' and it has a lot of Creole patois in it. Jockamo means 'jester' in the old myth. It is Mardi Gras music, and the Shaweez was one of many Mardi Gras groups who dressed up in far out Indian costumes and came on as Indian tribes. The tribes used to hang out on Claiborne Avenue and used to get juiced up there getting ready to perform and 'second line' in their own special style during Mardi Gras. That's dead and gone because there's a freeway where those grounds used to be. The tribes were like social clubs who lived all year for Mardi Gras, getting their costumes together. Many of them were musicians, gamblers, hustlers and pimps."

More as found, ~J

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Armen Tanzerian
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 08:53 AM

One of the better reviews I ever read of the great Neville brothers ended with "and if you don't like the Nevilles, well shock-a-mo feena hay". I had already taken that phrase to mean something like "go to hell", so it seemed really à-propos.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Aug 01 - 01:56 PM

More of the stuff, and a book to look up:

Jen,
Dug around last nite in my boxes of New Orleans "stuff" and I did locate three articles cited in Jason Berry's "Up from the Cradle of Jazz." Girl, get this book if it's still in print. It goes into great length about the Mardi Gras Indian tradition as part of its study of New Orleans R&B. The first article circa 1973 is by none other than Allison Miner. This is a 2 page overview of Indian traditons. Second article is about the Indians past and present by Joan M. Martin. Anyone know about her? Basically discussing the change from the more violent/ritualized traditions pre WWII to the competition to id the "prettiest" Indian post WWII. Also has a few paragraphs about the legendary "Brother Tillman" of the "White Eagles"(and other gangs). The third article is "Creativity in the songs of the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans,La." by Finn Welhelmsen. This Scandinavian actually was a member of the Black Eagles. My husband and I spent some time with him a few years ago. God bless him...he's an inspiration and I hope he is well. Anyway, in this article he discusses "Two-way Pokowee" as a song urging other tribes to get out of the way, "Big Chief wants plenty of fire water" is a begging song, "Shoo fly don't bother me", a ring dance song transformed into a warning to get out of the way. Also discusses how the words in the song can vary depending on the actual action occurring at a parade. The folk process in action! Nothing mentioned about Iko Iko. Enough of the scholarly stuff...bottom line...when Ernie K-Doe said "I'm not sure but I think all music started in New Orleans" I think he was talking about the chants and rhythms of the Mardi Gras Indians!

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 07:40 AM

Hey Guest Toledo,

You're thinking of a song by the Australian group "Crowded House".

Hey now, hey now

Don't dream it's over

Hey now, hey now

When the world comes in

They come, they come

To build a wall between us

We know they won't win

Dan

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 15 Dec 01 - 07:40 PM

You can download an MP3 copy of the song by the great, GREAT, FANTASTIC group, Marley's Ghost here

http://www.cyberbites.com/marleys_ghost/mgmp3pcdos.html

Lyle

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 10:00 AM

The Wild Magnolias are one of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian 'tribes'. Here's a page on parades, spy boys, flag boys, and 'Hey pak-e way'. Satchmo.com: Running the streets of the Crescent City.

Here's an intro to the costumes and customs of the Mardi Gras indian tribes Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans

A google search under Mardi Gras Indians will turn up more.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 03:12 PM

The Dead's version was usually spelled "Aiko Aiko", and I think I remember people saying it was Cajun in origin, but who knows?

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,Bud
Date: 16 Dec 01 - 04:31 PM

It has a French flavor to it, but I understand France French and speak Canadian French, and I can make very little sense of it. If it was Cajun, I should be able to understand something. I suppose the Indian idea is accurate.

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,prudentius
Date: 17 Dec 01 - 03:53 PM

Indian, French, Cajun, etc.? A someone said, the lyrics are originally in an French-based creole patois, not Cajun, but related to Haitian and Guadeloupe Creole. They're pretty obscure to most everyone today. The violent gang-banging associations of the Mardi Gras Indians are now de-emphasized, but the "flag-boy" and other elements of competition are still there, and meaning of "Too-way pockaway" is still clear, and might still incite a fight: it means "you are not equipped with testicles"/"you ain't got balls" -- tu es pas couille!

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,pj
Date: 08 Jul 08 - 08:36 PM

Iko Iko " is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two "tribes" of Mardi Gras Indians . The lyrics are derived from Indian chants and popular catchphrases. The song, under the original title " Jock-A-Mo ", was written in 1954 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford in New Orleans , but has spread so widely that many people take it to be a much older folk song

Subject: RE: hey now hey now ico ico wanna ney what song?
From: GUEST,Ya-Ya
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 08:13 AM

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. My curiosity was really getting the best of me as to what this song means and you have answered that question quite well. Thanks to all!