Sunday Samples 54
New Orleans is fairly paralyzed by Mardi Gras now, so a local Mardi Gras theme is in order.
Here’s one I hadn’t realized was local until sometime last semester, partly because I could never really follow the words 
Originally titled “Jock-a-mo” when it was written in 1954, it’s become a classic, and rather recognizable near and far. One of the most famous of its many covers was a pop treatment for the soundtrack of Rain Man, in its opening scene, so if it sounds familiar, that’s where you know it from.
The song tells of two bands of “Mardi Gras Indians” (an interesting phenomenon in its own right) whose parades collide with each other, and the ensuing conflict. It’s shot through with parade chants in the local patois, so don’t worry if it makes next to no sense. I give you “Iko Iko”, and hurry back out to laissez les bon temps roulez!
