Dr. John’s cover of this New Orleans classic offers a version of the lyrics different to those made popular by the 1964 recording from the Dixie Cups.
[Chorus]
Iko, iko
Iko iko an day
Jockomo feeno ah nan day
Jockomo feena nay
[Verse 1]
My spyboy tell your spyboy
Sittin' on the bayou
My spyboy told your spyboy
"I'm gon' set your tail on fire"
[Chorus]
Talkin' 'bout hey now (Hey now)
Hey now (Hey now)
Iko iko an day (Oh)
Jockomo feeno ah nan day
Jockomo feena nay
[Verse 2]
My marraine told your marraine
Sittin' on the Bayou
My marraine told your parraine
"I'm gon' set your thing on fire"
[Verse 3]
We goin' down the for-lay-shon
Iko, Iko, an day
We gonna catch a lil' ol' salmon
And put jockomo feena nay, now
[Chorus]
Talkin' 'bout hey now (Hey now)
Hey now (Hey now)
Iko iko an day (Oh)
Jockomo feeno ah nan day
Jockomo feena nay (Far out)
[Verse 4]
See Marie down the railroad track
Iko iko an day
Said put it here in a chicken sack
With your jockomo feena
[Verse 5]
My lil' boy told your lil' boy
"Get your head on my-oh"
My lil' girl told your lil' boy
"We're gon' get your chicken wire"
[Chorus]
Talkin' 'bout hey now (Hey, now)
Hey now (Hey, now)
Iko iko an day (Oh)
Jockomo feeno ah nan day
Now jockomo feena nay
[Verse 6]
We goin' down to beggars town
Iko iko an day
We gon' tell 'em 'bout your messin' around
You gon' jockomo feena nay
[Verse 7]
Call your wife, your children too
Iko iko an day
'Cause we ain't do what you tell us to
Now, you can jockomo feena nay, now
[Chorus]
Talkin' 'bout hey now (Hey, now)
Hey now (Hey, now)
Iko iko an day
Jockomo feeno ah nan day
Now, jockomo feena nay
[Outro]
Jockomo fee nan day
What I say an day
Jockomo fee nan day
What I say an day
Jockomo fee nan day
What I say an day
Jockomo fee nan day (Iko iko an day)
What I say an day (Jockomo feena nay)
Jockomo fee nan day (Iko iko an day)
What I say an day (Jockomo feena nay)
Jockomo fee nan day (Iko iko an day)
What I say an day (Jockomo feena nay)
Jockomo fee nan day (Iko iko an day)
What I say an day (Jockomo feena nay)
Jockomo fee nan day (Iko iko an day)
What I say an day (Jockomo feena nay)
Iko Iko was written by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford.
Iko Iko was produced by Jerry Wexler & Harold Battiste.