Iko Iko - My Grandma and your Grandma...

• Originally this was a song about rival Carnival Float 'Gangs' at Mardi Gras.( Wikipedia link...)

• This song has been featured on many adverts (click here... for YouTube link) and covered by many artists - Sia being one of the latest (click here... for her YouTube lyric video)

• We are going to play along with the backing track and build the song up. Follow the instructions with the lyrics below!

• Do check out the 'Handy hints' below the lyrics for playing this piece! Click here to JUMP!

f                              f                                  f                     c

My grand-ma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire.
c                             c                                               c                          f

My grand-ma told your grand-ma: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."

                        f                                   f
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now !

f                     c

I-ko, I-ko, un-day
c                              c            c                             f           (change to chord *mute) F *  F *  F *  F *

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

F                                F                      F                    C
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day.
 C                                          C                    C                            F

I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né

                        F                                   F
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now !

F                     C

I-ko, I-ko, un-day
C                             C            C                            F           (change to DOUBLE TIME STRUM) F F F F F F F F

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

F                                                                                  C
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire.

C                                                                                                    F

My flag boy told your flag boy: "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire."

                        F                                  
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now !

                       C

I-ko, I-ko, un-day
C                                                                        F          

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

                        F                                  
Talk-in' 'bout, Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now ! Hey now !

                      C

I-ko, I-ko, un-day
C                                                                        F         

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

'Handy Hints' for playing this piece!

• In Verse 1...

  • use the 'crabby claws' technique. Play the second string ('E') with the first finger on the RH and the 3rd string (Open 'C') with your thumb.

  • Keep the LH first finger down all the time.

• In Verse 2...

  • When you start playing the chords in full try muting them (put your RH flat on the strings) after each strum and that may help keep your playing in time.

• In Verse 3...

  • Its a straight strum on the beat! You're home and dry!

  • Remember to play the chorus twice to finish.