Crocodile Rock Lyrics
Me and Suzie had so much fun
holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
we were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
when your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
when Suzie wore her dresses tight
and the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight
Suzie went and left us for some foreign guy
Long nights crying by the record machine
dreaming of my Chevy and my old blue jeans
But they'll never kill the thrills we've got
burning up to the Crocodile Rock
Learning fast as the weeks went past
we really thought the Crocodile Rock would last
I like punk, but Elton and Classic Rock are my only exceptions. This and Saturday night are my faves. And of course Tiny Dancer...
Yes stoolhardy, it is a fad dance he made up, but a very good one. I love doing karaoke to this song. Easy and fun. It's about childhood memories of dancing, hanging out with friends (suzi in particular) and enjoying life.
this song is catchy as it is nostalgic, a true example of elton's gift to write wonderful music and taupin's excellent words.
it sounds to me like it's about a guy who went out all the time doing his favourite dance with the girl he liked, but then they all grew up, apart, and they grew out of the rock.
On the surface, this appears to be a song about an old 50's dance called the "Crocodile Rock". Upon closer inspection, this is clearly a song about drugs. Remember, song writers are artists and the words are there for a reason. First of all, let's consider that Elton John was a cocaine addict and was possibly doing crack with his pal Bernie Taupin (co-song writer) in the early 70's "when (crack) rock was young". I realize that crack cocaine was extremely young at the time this song was written so it may be more likely that Crocodile Rock is about Speed or some other stimulant. In fact, Speed became a schedule II drug in 1971, the year before this song was written. The Crocodile Rock was "out of sight" because it was illegal. Anyway, so if all "the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock", why weren't Elton and Bernie? Because they were getting high on amphetamines. I'm sure "holding hands and skimming stones" is tons of fun, but it seems kind of random and doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the context of this song, unless of course "skimming stones" is a reference for "doing drugs". If this is a song about a 1950's rock & roll dance, it sounds like Suzie was a real slut wearing those "tight dresses" back in the 50's. Maybe she's actually an early 70's hooker. I admit that I would certainly be "shocked" if there were a dance that made it so my "feet just can't keep still". Maybe a better explanation for such a phenomenon is drug that causes hyperactivity and restlessness, such as...amphetamine. So after "years went by" of "burning up (smoking?)" and "learning fast (speed?)", the "rock just died". That is to say that he ran out of money and couldn't obtain his "rock" anymore. He mentions that he "had" (past tense) an "old gold Chevy and a place of his own". Drug addiction certainly can cause one to lose one's car and home. He mentions "dreaming of his chevy and his old blue jeans" to re-emphasize the fact that he did, without a doubt, lose everything...even his pants. So when the money was gone, Suzie took off and left "us" (him and his addiction to amphetamine) for "some foreign guy", Suzie's new pimp. At no point in this song does it ever say that the Crocodile Rock is a dance. He only says that he was "doing" a "thing" called the Crocodile Rock. In conclusion, he was "doing" a "thing" called drugs.
Uh, no, it's about a dance called the Crocodile Rock. Nostalgia, Fun. Sex. Sweat. YOUTH!!! You're overthinking it.
Uh, no, it's about a dance called the Crocodile Rock. Nostalgia, Fun. Sex. Sweat. YOUTH!!! You're overthinking it.
@opeth2009 To quote from another rock classic: Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. You are so far off target that you've probably bumped into yourself by now.
@opeth2009 To quote from another rock classic: Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. You are so far off target that you've probably bumped into yourself by now.
This is a great song that everytime I listen to it I just can't keep still!
Yeah, Tiny Dancer is great! This song is so "nastalgic". Reminds me (not that I lived in that era) when girls wore Buster Browns and had poodles on their skirts and boys wore a lot of mouse in their hair (hm..they still do that tho' ..lol). He's got so much energy. But this song has a slightly sad twist to it. "the rock just died". No, Elton, it's still here, just different.
@LeArtist very late reply, but...
@LeArtist very late reply, but...
as the legend goes, Rock n Roll “died” between, say, 1959-60 until The Beatles showed up. I think this is what this line is referring to, because the Croc-Rock is obviously a dance from the early days of rock n roll. Elvis got drafted, Chuck Berry got railroaded into jail on a bullshit Mann Act charge, Buddy Holly died, Jerry Lee married his 13 y/o cousin....the early heroes were almost all nearly brought down.
as the legend goes, Rock n Roll “died” between, say, 1959-60 until The Beatles showed up. I think this is what this line is referring to, because the Croc-Rock is obviously a dance from the early days of rock n roll. Elvis got drafted, Chuck Berry got railroaded into jail on a bullshit Mann Act charge, Buddy Holly died, Jerry Lee married his 13 y/o cousin....the early heroes were almost all nearly brought down.
But it’s really just a myth, Dion andyhe Belmonts, among many other groups were still making quality rock n roll....
But it’s really just a myth, Dion andyhe Belmonts, among many other groups were still making quality rock n roll. And of course, The Beatles (or British Invasion in general) are the “foreign guy” Suzy left them for...
I take it that "Crocodile Rock" is a fad dance that he made up.
this is one of the first elton john songs that i heard, then i bought the gtrestest hits on tape, i listened to other songs and said hey ivwe heard this song. great artist. he gets better with every album that comes out
Easy song to understand. Its a bout a group of friends like St Elmos Fire who used to hang out and dance the Crocodile Rock and as they got older they all went their separate ways and he misses those days.