Original group members:
Barbara Ann Hawkins (born October 23, 1943)
Joan Marie Johnson (January 15, 1944 – October 5, 2016)
Rosa Lee Hawkins (born September 24, 1944)
The group hit the top of the charts in 1964 with "Chapel of Love," a song that Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich had originally written for The Ronettes. The trio consisted of sisters Barbara Ann and Rosa Lee Hawkins; plus their cousin Joan Marie Johnson, from New Orleans. They first sang together in grade school. Originally they were to be called Little Miss and the Muffets, but were named the Dixie Cups just prior to their first release.
In 1963 the trio decided to pursue a professional career in music and began singing locally as the Meltones. Within a year Joe Jones, a successful singer in his own right with the Top Five 1960 single "You Talk Too Much," became their manager. After working with them for five months, Jones took them to New York, where record producers/songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller signed them to their new Red Bird Records.
The Dixie Cups debut single was the release, "Chapel of Love," which became their biggest hit reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in June 1964. "Chapel of Love" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. In 1987, the song "Chapel of Love" appeared on the Full Metal Jacket soundtrack and in the 1991 film, Father of the Bride. The hit single by The Dixie Cups was ranked #279 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The group also had several other hits including, "People Say" (#12, 1964), "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me" (#39, 1964), "Little Bell" (#51, 1965), and "Iko Iko" (#20, 1965).
"Iko Iko", a New Orleans traditional song, was recorded in 1964 but later was released as a single early in 1965. Barbara Hawkins had heard her grandmother sing the song, first recorded in 1953 as "Jock-a-Mo" by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford. Barbara Hawkins: "We were just clowning around with it during a session using drumsticks on ashtrays. We didn't realize that Jerry and Mike had the tapes running". Leiber and Stoller overdubbed a bassline and percussion, and released it. It was The Dixie Cups' fifth and last hit.
In 1965, the Dixie Cups moved to the ABC-Paramount record label before a recording hiatus in 1966 temporarily halted their careers. In 1974 the Hawkins sisters moved from New York to New Orleans, where they both began successful modelling careers. The Hawkins also worked as make-up artists. The Dixie Cups continued to tour as a trio with another New Orleans singer, Beverly Brown, replacing Joan Johnson who became a Jehovah's Witness and left her music career. Brown who had recorded two solo discs in the early 1960s stayed as the third member until the early 80s when she became ill and was replaced by Dale Mickle. The Dixie Cups continue to perform and make personal appearances. The current line-up consists of the same Hawkins sisters along with Athelgra Neville, sister of the singing Neville Brothers.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, flooding and flattening most of New Orleans and displacing Barbara and Rosa Hawkins, who subsequently relocated to Florida. Joan Johnson relocated to Texas. Two years later in April 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame honored The Dixie Cups for their contributions to Louisiana music by inducting them into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Discography
Singles
"Chapel of Love" b/w "Ain't That Nice" (1964) Red Bird Records / U.S. Chart (Billboard) #1 UK #22 Canada RPM #1
"People Say" b/w "Girls Can Tell" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #12[8] R&B #7 Canada RPM #7
"You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me" b/w "No True Love" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #39 Canada RPM #20
"Little Bell" b/w "Another Boy Like Mine" (1964) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #51[8] R&B #21
"Iko Iko" b/w "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #20[8] R&B #20 UK # 23 Canada RPM #26
"Iko Iko" b/w "Gee Baby Gee" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Chart (Billboard) #20
"Gee The Moon Is Shining Bright" b/w "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" (1965) Red Bird Records/ U.S. Billboard #102
"Two-Way-Poc-A-Way" b/w "That's Where It's At" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records /Written by Harold Fedison
"What Goes Up Must Come Down" b/w "I'm Not The Kind Of Girl (To Marry)" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
"A-B-C Song" b/w "That's What The Kids Said" (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
"Love Ain't So Bad (After All)" b/w "Daddy Said No" (1966) ABC Records
Albums
Chapel of Love (1964) Red Bird Records/ Billboard 200 #112
Iko Iko (1965) Red Bird Records (re-packaged album that is the same as their debut with a different album cover under the title Iko Iko)
Riding High (1965) ABC-Paramount Records
Doing It Our Way (2011) Iri Records
Compilations
Teen Anguish Volume One (1979) Charly Records
The Best Of The Dixie Cups (1985) Back-Trac Records
The Dixie Cups Meet The Shangri-Las (1986) Charly Records
The Very Best Of The Dixie Cups: Chapel Of Love (1998) Collectables Records
The Complete Red Bird Recordings (2002) Varèse Sarabande Records
Iko Iko
The Dixie Cups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My grandma 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
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
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
The lyrics to The Dixie Cups' song "Iko Iko" have remained somewhat enigmatic in their meaning since the song's release in 1965. The song is based on a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras chant and incorporates Creole and other Louisiana slang.
The first verse sets the scene with two grandmothers sitting by a fire, with one grandmother threatening to set the other's flag on fire. The chorus, "I-ko, I-ko, un-day" and "Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né," are based on traditional chants from Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, which are meant to energize the participants and onlookers. The second verse references a "king all dressed in red," who is rumored to inflict violence, while the third verse describes someone "dressed in green" who is "not a man, he's a loving machine," which could be interpreted as a reference to a cross-dressing performer or someone who is highly charismatic.
Despite the seemingly nonsensical lyrics, the upbeat, rhythm-heavy song has become an enduring classic and has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including The Grateful Dead, Dr. John, and Cyndi Lauper.
Line by Line Meaning
My grandma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire
Two grandmothers were sitting by the fire
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire
One grandmother threatened to burn the other's flag
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Slang words to grab attention
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Nonsense syllables to hype up the rhythm
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
A man in red clothing is noticed
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
A bet is made on the man's ability to kill
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
Two boys in charge of flags were sitting by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"
One flag boy threatened to burn the other's flag
See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
A man in green clothing is pointed out
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né
The man is referred to as a machine of love
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Slang words to grab attention
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Nonsense syllables to hype up the rhythm
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Slang words to grab attention
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Nonsense syllables to hype up the rhythm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barbara Anne Hawkins, Joan Marie Johnson, Rosa Lee Hawkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wackyruss
The famous chorus is mostly in Louisiana Creole French except “Chokma Finha” which is Choctaw (Native American) for “Very Good”. Iko Iko is Louisiana Creole French for “Listen, Listen!” (French: Écoute Écoute!). An Dey is Louisiana Creole French for “in the back” The French word is Derrière and shortened to “dey yay” in Louisiana Creole French. The “yay” got dropped and we were left with “an dey”. An Dan Dey means “in the back” from French. The last word is the French word for year - Année.
So….
Iko Iko An Dey
Chokma Finha An Dan Dey
Chokma Fin Année
means
Listen! Listen at the back!
It’s very good in the back!
It’s a very Good Year!
The mixing of Louisiana Creole French with the Native American Choctaw language occurred because this chant came from the “black” Mardi Gras Indian dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that perform dance battles in the streets of New Orleans.
Also, the black creoles of African descent oftentimes married Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. This song is a gem with so much history behind the meaning of the words.
@giasharie274
Lyrics:
My grandma and your grandma
Were sittin' by the fire
My grandma told your grandma
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko, Iko, an day (oh)
Jocomo fee no an dan day
Jocomo fee nan nay
Look at my king
All dressed in red
Iko, Iko, an day
I betcha five dollars
He'll kill you dead
Jocomo fee nan nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko, Iko, an day (oh)
Jocomo fee no an dan day
Jocomo fee nan nay
My flag boy and your flag boy
Sittin' by the fire
My flagboy told your flagboy
"I'm gonna set your flag on fire."
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko, Iko, an day (oh)
Jocomo fee no an dan day
Jocomo fee nan nay
(Oh... yes)
See that guy all dressed in green?
Iko, Iko, an day
He not a man
He a lovin' machine
Jocomo fee nan nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now (hey now)
Hey now (hey now)
Iko, Iko, an day (oh)
Jocomo fee no an dan day
Jocomo fee nan nay
Talkin' 'bout
Hey now
Hey now (hey now)
Iko, Iko, an day (oh)
Jocomo fee no an dan day
Jocomo fee nan nay
Jocomo fee nan nay
(I say he's dressed in green)
Jocomo fee nan nay
(Iko)
Jocomo fee nan nay
@wackyruss
The famous chorus is mostly in Louisiana Creole French except “Chokma Finha” which is Choctaw (Native American) for “Very Good”. Iko Iko is Louisiana Creole French for “Listen, Listen!” (French: Écoute Écoute!). An Dey is Louisiana Creole French for “in the back” The French word is Derrière and shortened to “dey yay” in Louisiana Creole French. The “yay” got dropped and we were left with “an dey”. An Dan Dey means “in the back” from French. The last word is the French word for year - Année.
So….
Iko Iko An Dey
Chokma Finha An Dan Dey
Chokma Fin Année
means
Listen! Listen at the back!
It’s very good in the back!
It’s a very Good Year!
The mixing of Louisiana Creole French with the Native American Choctaw language occurred because this chant came from the “black” Mardi Gras Indian dancers dressed in elaborate costumes that perform dance battles in the streets of New Orleans.
Also, the black creoles of African descent oftentimes married Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. This song is a gem with so much history behind the meaning of the words.
@dalmainepeel8275
Wow,thanks for the interpretation and the explanation 😎
@teacup3133
Thank you so much for the history! It makes it so much more beautiful.
@louern123
thanks ! i couldn’t find this on google
@TheNewKidChameleon
Thank you
Wow
This is such an awesome lesson
Thank you
Also considering this song was just a hit again as
My Bestie
@kevincage1641
My gran pere is a full blooded Creole from NOLA. Mom used to sing this often. Thank you so much for your historical information. It has a greater relevance now than then.
@aselle1709
It turns out the song, originally titled “Jock-a-Mo,” was actually written in 1953 by James “Sugar Boy” Crawford. It tells of a parade collision between two “tribes” of Mardi Gras Indians. There’s a “spy boy” or “spy dog” (a lookout for one band of Indians) encountering the “flag boy” for another band. He threatens to set the flag on fire. Crawford told Offbeat magazine in 2002: “It 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 was called when the Indians went into battle. I just put them together and made a song out of them. I was just trying to write a catchy song.”
@thomasdeas1941
Really, the bots are getting some?
@donnab.333
Thanks for the info. ❤❤
@whatwillbem6825
It worked!