What does "kumbaya" mean?

The Straight Dope ^ | September 11, 1998 | Cecil Adams

[EveningStar]

Dear Cecil:

This has probably been answered somewhere before, but I was getting my teeth drilled that day. Just what does kumbaya mean?

— F. Pierson, via the Internet

[2dollarbill]

“come by here”

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

It means Obama is a Marxist.

[Jack of all Trades]

It means your day long Cub Scout BALOO training session is almost over!

[MeganC]

LOL!

[BenLurkin]

"You can cut across the cattle yard, but be careful not to step in the kumbaya.

[Fresh Wind]

Something a salesman would say, followed by a product name.

[JoeDetweiler]

Hmmm....when I was growing up in North Carolina we called these folks Geechee. I wonder when they became Gullah. I also wonder if Geechee is now one of those terms I’m not supposed to say. In fairness, it usually preceded another word along the lines of “Geechee B**t**d.”

[tsowellfan]

Interesting article! I’ve been researching the similarities between native American languages and that which is spoken in Mongolia. It’s believed by many that Mongolia is the ancestral place of the Native American

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Does anyone see the irony between the topic and what happened exactly 3 years after the question was asked?

[Focault's Pendulum]

It’s Angolan for “come here Baya”. Baya is a type of Angolan dog that really despises Kenyans with fake birth certificates, social security numbers, and is campaigning in all 57 states.

[cuban leaf]

I have little doubt that is true. We have hosted two Mongolian girls and they look more like American Indians than the other Asians we’ve been hosting.

[discostu]

“If sung enough times all around you will jab pencils in their ears”.

[Old Sarge]

[tsowellfan]

You would probably love seeing this movie:

The Trail of Genghis Khan

[EveningStar]

Yes. I did notice the date its significance.

[tsowellfan]

Also, when you have a chance... check out this Mongolian song (especially the beginning). It’s very similar to the music of Native Americans!

http://youtu.be/tjCJCpbqSjc

[Little Bill]

Sounds like someone got poked in the bum with a sharp stick.

[SMARTY]

It means ‘Honk if you love midget porn’

[House Atreides]

Hmmm....perhaps what Elizabeth Warren meant to say was that she was part Mongolian instead of part Cherokee?