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Crocodiles Lyrics
I read it in a magazine
I don't wanna see it again
I threw away the magazine
And looked for someone to explain
I don't wanna look back
I can't look around
I don't wanna see it coming round
Listen to the ups and downs
Listen to the sound they make
Don't be scared when it gets loud
When you're skin begins to shake
'Cause you don't wanna look back
You gotta look tall
You gotta see those creeps crawl
I know you know
I know you know
I can see you've got the blues
In your alligator shoes
Me, I'm all smiles
I got my crocodiles
I don't wanna look back
I can't turn around
I don't want to see it coming down
Met someone just the other day
Said wait until tomorrow
I said, hey what you doing today
He said, I'm going to do it tomorrow
Met someone just the other day
Said wait until tomorrow
I said, hey, what you doing today
I'm going to do it tomorrow
I don't wanna see it again
I threw away the magazine
And looked for someone to explain
I don't wanna look back
I can't look around
I don't wanna see it coming round
Listen to the sound they make
Don't be scared when it gets loud
When you're skin begins to shake
'Cause you don't wanna look back
You gotta look tall
You gotta see those creeps crawl
I know you know
In your alligator shoes
Me, I'm all smiles
I got my crocodiles
I don't wanna look back
I can't turn around
I don't want to see it coming down
Said wait until tomorrow
I said, hey what you doing today
He said, I'm going to do it tomorrow
Met someone just the other day
Said wait until tomorrow
I said, hey, what you doing today
I'm going to do it tomorrow
Song Info
Submitted by
golgotha On Jun 05, 2002
More Echo and the Bunnymen
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The Cutter
Bring On The Dancing Horses
Lips Like Sugar
Ocean Rain
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I think this song is about obsessive-compulsive disorder (neurosis). Ian McCulloch suffered from OCD himself during his childhood, and so I do (still suffer from it). The "ups and downs" refer, I think, to the mood swings that OCD sufferers often experience, or maybe just even to the ups and downs of the life of someone with mental issues. "Listen to the sound they make" would be a metaphore then for "see what the disorder causes and brings you", whereas the "don't you scream when it gets loud" could be the anxiety coming in. I could be very wrong about this, but to me Crocodiles has always felt like an OCD anthem.
That's certainly an interesting take. (I didn't know he had OCD, where did you hear that?)
Honestly, I've always thought very, very few Bunnymen songs had exact "meaning" but rather conveyed feeling than any exact meaning. But I'm probably wrong.
@camelpimp As far as I can recall, it wasn't talked about or brought up during the Bunnymen's heyday. Though I recently read a 1981 interview where the interviewer said McCulloch could be rock's Howard Hughes as he was fixated on hotel cleanliness (for example, taking hours to inspect all the beds). So a bit of a clue on Mac's OCD tendencies way back in the day. After the 1997 comeback, Mac has talked about his OCD in interviews. Understandably, he doesn't go into a lot of details but it seems to be a substantial factor in...
@camelpimp As far as I can recall, it wasn't talked about or brought up during the Bunnymen's heyday. Though I recently read a 1981 interview where the interviewer said McCulloch could be rock's Howard Hughes as he was fixated on hotel cleanliness (for example, taking hours to inspect all the beds). So a bit of a clue on Mac's OCD tendencies way back in the day. After the 1997 comeback, Mac has talked about his OCD in interviews. Understandably, he doesn't go into a lot of details but it seems to be a substantial factor in his life. And yes, he still deals with it. Just speculating out of my ass here, but I think it may be why he's had the drink and drugs issues--maybe going down the self-medication route.
It never occurred to me as a kid in the 1980's that a cool rock star like Ian McCulloch would have OCD. Heck, I didn't even know the existence of OCD then. But looking back on it, it may explain McCulloch's behavior and battles with depression.
I agree with your last point--McCulloch's lyrics may have definite meanings to him, but overall he and the band were more into creating atmosphere and feelings rather getting a message across.
Ian McCulloch said in an interview once that nearly all the Bunnymen songs are about him or his life. And he did (does) suffer from OCD. He refers to the feelings it causes him in many of their songs. OCD often caused him to suffer from insomnia and that's when he would write music - when he couldn't sleep.
I like this, doesn't really sound like typical bunnymen though
This song was written after reading an unfavourable review in a magazine and about how fed up he was of loads of people used to say what they were going to do in the future but never actually doing anything.