Iko Iko (My Bestie) by Justin Wellington - Ukulele Chords
Intro [F]
Verse 1
[F]My bestie and your bestie sit down by di [C]fire
My bestie say she wan' party so can we make these flames go [F]higher?
[F]Talkin' 'bout Hey now (hey now), Hey now (hey now), iko iko un-[C]day
Jockamo feeno ay na-ney Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
Verse 2
[F]Start my truck let's all jump in, here we go to-[C]gether
Nice cool breeze and big palm trees, I'll tell you life don't get no [F]better
[F]Talkin' 'bout Hey now (hey now), Hey now (hey now), iko iko un-[C]day
Jockamo feeno ay na-ney Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
Verse 3
[F]Shout out to the good time crew all across the [C]islands
Grab your shoes then we'll two-by-two and now we're shining' bright like[F] diamonds
[F]Talkin' 'bout Hey now (hey now), Hey now (hey now), iko iko un-[C]day
Jockamo feeno ay na-ney Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
Verse 4
[F]My bestie and your bestie sit down by di [C]fire
My bestie say she wan' party so can we make these flames go [F]higher?
[F]Talkin' 'bout Hey now (hey now), Hey now (hey now), iko iko un-[C]day
Jockamo feeno ay na-ney Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
[C]Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
[C]Jockamo fee na-[F]ney
[C]Jockamo fee na-[F]ney!
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The Story Behind the Song
It’s based on a much older New Orleans song.
“Iko Iko (My Bestie)” isn’t completely original—it’s an adaptation of the traditional song Iko Iko, first recorded in 1953 as “Jock-A-Mo” by James 'Sugar Boy' Crawford.
The song comes from New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian culture, describing a meeting (and sometimes rivalry) between different parade “tribes.”
Its famous chorus (“Iko Iko…”) is partly derived from Creole and Native American-influenced chants, which is why the words sound unusual or nonsensical.
The Justin Wellington Version
In 2017, Justin Wellington teamed up with the Solomon Islands group Small Jam to create a new version:
He kept the iconic chorus but rewrote verses and added new sections.
The lyrics shifted from parade rivalry to a feel-good friendship/party vibe (“my bestie and your bestie…”).
Musically, it blends pop, reggae, and island sounds, giving it a relaxed, tropical feel.
So it’s less a straight cover and more a reinterpretation for a modern audience.