It’s that "la-la-la-la-la" hook. You know the one. It’s high-pitched, almost cartoonish, and it’s basically been stuck in the collective consciousness of the world since 1972. But when you actually sit down and look at the lyrics for Crocodile Rock, you realize it isn't just a bubblegum pop song meant for radio play. It’s a song about the death of an era, wrapped in a shiny, glittery package.
Honestly? Elton John has been pretty vocal about the fact that he doesn't consider this his "greatest" work. He’s even called it "disposable pop." But for millions of fans, the words Bernie Taupin wrote represent a very specific kind of longing. It’s a meta-song. It’s a song about music, about the way a single record can define a summer, and how the world moves on whether you’re ready for it or not.
What the lyrics for Crocodile Rock are really saying
The story starts with a "Susie." She’s the girl in the "old gold Chevy" and the "barefoot dress." If you’re looking at the lyrics for Crocodile Rock and thinking it’s a literal description of a dance move, you’re only halfway there. The "Crocodile Rock" wasn't a real dance craze like the Twist or the Mashed Potato—at least not until Elton made it one.
Bernie Taupin was writing about the 1950s from the perspective of the early 1970s. That’s a twenty-year gap. Imagine someone today writing a nostalgic anthem about the early 2000s, flip phones, and low-rise jeans. That’s the vibe. The "Crocodile" part was a nod to "See You Later, Alligator" by Bill Haley & His Comets. It was an homage to the birth of Rock and Roll.
The lyrics paint a picture of a time when "the music gently shocked me." That’s a brilliant line. It captures that moment when a kid hears something their parents hate, and suddenly, the world feels bigger. But the song takes a dark turn in the later verses. The years pass, the burning fat (a reference to the literal heat of the dance floor or maybe just the energy of youth) goes cold. Susie leaves for someone else. The music changes.
The Bill Haley and Pat Boone connection
You can’t talk about these lyrics without talking about the sound. Elton deliberately mimicked the style of early 60s "teen idol" music. The high-pitched vocal refrain was a direct lift from the style of Speedo and the Cadillacs or even Del Shannon’s "Runaway."
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- The tempo is frantic.
- The piano is pure boogie-woogie.
- The lyrics use slang like "hop" and "out of sight."
Bernie Taupin often wrote lyrics that were much darker than the melodies Elton attached to them. Think about "Rocket Man" or "Candle in the Wind." Crocodile Rock lyrics follow that pattern. On the surface, it’s a party. Underneath, it’s a guy mourning the fact that he’s grown up and the world he loved has evaporated. "I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will." That’s a heavy sentiment for a song that sounds like a carnival.
Why the "La La La" part almost didn't happen
Legend has it that the iconic falsetto hook was almost an afterthought. Elton was in the studio at Strawberry Studios in France. He wanted something that captured the "crap" pop of the era—the kind of catchy, mindless earworms that dominated the AM dial.
It worked too well.
The song became Elton's first number-one hit in the United States. It stayed there for three weeks. For a guy who was trying to be a "serious" album artist, the massive success of a nostalgic parody was a bit of a double-edged sword. He had to play it at every concert for the next fifty years. You can almost feel the irony when he sings about how "the records only swept the dust" in his mind.
The song is self-aware. It knows it's a throwback. It’s a song about a guy who is obsessed with a song that no longer plays on the radio. When you search for the lyrics for Crocodile Rock, you’re participating in that same cycle. You’re looking back at a song that was already looking back.
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Misheard lines and common mistakes
People get the words wrong all the time. It’s a fast song.
One of the most common mistakes is the line "Doing the Crocodile Rock." People often hear it as "Doing the Crocodile Walk." Nope. It’s definitely "Rock."
Then there’s the Chevy line. "Me and Susie had so much fun / Cutting up to a foreign sun." Wait, no. It’s "Looking for a week of out of sight fun / At the Blue Light on the hill."
The "Blue Light" isn't a specific club that existed in London or Los Angeles. It’s a vibe. It’s that generic name for a dive bar or a dance hall that exists in every small town in the memory of a teenager. Bernie Taupin grew up in rural Lincolnshire, England. His version of "the 50s" was filtered through American movies and records that made it across the Atlantic. That’s why the imagery feels so Americana—the Chevy, the "long nights," the specific brand of heartbreak.
The legacy of the song in pop culture
It’s everywhere. It’s in The Muppet Show. It’s in Gnomeo & Juliet. It’s been covered by everyone from the Beach Boys to Alvin and the Chipmunks.
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But why?
Probably because it’s the ultimate "safe" rock song. It has just enough edge to feel like rock and roll, but it’s melodic enough for a five-year-old to sing. The lyrics for Crocodile Rock are clean, nostalgic, and easy to visualize.
Interestingly, the song faced some criticism early on. Some people thought it was too derivative of "Eagle Rock" by the Australian band Daddy Cool. Elton didn't deny the influence; he actually heard the song while touring Australia and loved the vibe. He wanted to capture that specific "Stomp" energy.
How to use this knowledge
If you're a musician or a songwriter, there’s a massive lesson in these lyrics. You don't always have to be profound to be deep. You can write a song that sounds like a party while actually talking about the passage of time and the loss of innocence.
- Study the structure: Notice how the verses build tension that is completely released by the "la-la" chorus.
- Look at the word choices: Taupin uses "gold," "burning," "shining," and "bright." It’s high-contrast imagery.
- Embrace the parody: Don't be afraid to lean into a genre. Elton did it, and it gave him his first #1.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers:
To truly appreciate the song, listen to it alongside Pat Boone’s "Speedy Gonzales" or Bill Haley’s "See You Later, Alligator." You’ll hear the DNA of the lyrics immediately. If you're learning to play it, focus on the rhythmic "bounce" of the piano—that’s what carries the story. The lyrics aren't just words; they’re percussive elements.
Next time you hear it, don't just sing the chorus. Listen to the story of the guy in the gold Chevy who lost his girl and his favorite song at the same time. It’s a lot more relatable than you might think. We all have a "Crocodile Rock"—that one thing from our past that felt like it would last forever, right up until the moment it didn't.