“Iko Iko” was originally written by James "Sugar Boy” Crawford in 1953 with the title “Jock-A-Mo”. Its chorus was inspired by two Indian chants:
[The song] came from two Indian chants that I put music to. ‘Iko Iko’ was like a victory chant that the Indians would shout. ‘Jock-A-Mo’ was a chant that...
My grandma and your grandma
Sitting by the fire
My grandma says to your grandma
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now
Hey now
Iko iko an nay
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
Look at my king all dressed in red
Iko iko an nay
I bet you five dollars he'll kill you dead
Jockomo feena nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko iko an nay (whoah-oh)
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
My flag boy and your flag boy
Sitting by the fire
My flag boy says to your flag boy
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire"
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko iko an nay (whoah-oh)
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
Jockomo feena nay
(hey now)
(hey now)
(hey now)
(hey now)
Jockomo feena nay
Iko!
See that guy all dressed in green
Iko iko an nay
He's not a man, he's a loving machine
Jockomo feena nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko iko an nay (whoah-oh)
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko iko an nay (whoah-oh)
Jockomo feena ah na nay
Jockomo feena nay (x 15)
Iko Iko was written by Joan Marie Johnson & Rosa Lee Hawkins & Barbara Anne Hawkins.
Iko Iko was produced by Brian Tench.