FCS Daily Music Video – ‘Iko Iko’ Dr John (a demonstration of how he played)

Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music combined blues, pop, jazz, boogie-woogie, funk, and rock and roll.

He typically performed a lively, theatrical stage show inspired by medicine shows, Mardi Gras costumes, and voodoo ceremonies. Rebennack recorded thirty studio albums and nine live albums, as well as contributing to thousands of other musicians’ recordings.

The winner of six Grammy Awards, Rebennack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2011. In May 2013, Rebennack received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Tulane University.

“Iko Iko” (/ˈaɪkoʊ ˈaɪkoʊ/) is a much-covered New Orleans song that tells of a parade collision between two tribes of Mardi Gras Indians and the traditional confrontation. The song, under the original title “Jock-A-Mo“, was written and released in 1953 as a single

Dr John at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1986

Lyrics below

He’s on automatic pilot…..

My grand-ma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire. 
My grand-ma told your grand-ma: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."

Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now! Hey now! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day. 
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now! Hey now! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

My flag boy and your flag boy were
Sit-tin' by the fire. My flag boy told
Your flag boy: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."

Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now! Hey now! I-KO, I-KO, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

See that guy all dressed in green? I-KO, I-KO, un-day. 
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine
Jock-a mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now! Hey now! I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Don Matthews
April 2021