Rock and Roll

Here’s a golden oldies that’s classic rock and roll. The song was written by Louisiana songwriter Robert Charles Guidry. He recorded it in 1955 under his stage name Bobby Charles. Roy Hall, who had written “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” recorded it as well. But Bill Haley and His Comets had the big hit with it in 1956, and their version of the song went to #6 on the U.S. Pop  Chart. The song was featured in the film Rock Around the Clock.

Haley was born William John Clifton Haley in Highland Park, Michigan. Both of his parents were musicians, and he started singing and playing guitar when he was young.  He was a musical director of at Radio Station WPWA in Chester, PA, and had his own band, who were called the Saddlemen. In the early 1950s, they eventually became Bill Haley & His Comets. The name came from Halley’s Comet, and they are one of the pioneering groups that helped to usher in rock and roll. They’re known for “Crazy Man, Crazy,” “Rock Around the Clock,” “See you Later, Alligator,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Skinny Minnie”, and “Razzle Dazzle.”

Here are the lyrics to “See You Later Alligator” by Bill Haley and His Comets:

See you later alligator.

Well I saw my baby walkin’,
With another one today,
Well I saw my baby walkin’
With another one today.
When I asked her “What’s the matter?”
This is what I heard her say.
Chorus:
See you later alligator,
After ‘while, crocodile.
See you later alligator,
After ‘while, crocodile.
Can’t you see you’re in my way now?
Don’t you know you cramp my style?
When I thought of what she told me,
Nearly made me lose my head,
When I thought of what she told me,
Nearly made me lose my head.
But the next time that I saw her,
Reminded her of what she said.
Repeat Chorus
She said, “I’m sorry, pretty daddy,
You know my love is just for you. ”
She said, “I’m sorry, pretty daddy,
You know my love is just for you,
Won’t you say that you’ll forgive me,
And say your love for me is true. ”
I said, “Wait a minute, ‘gator,
I know you mean it just for play. ”
I said, “Wait a minute, ‘gator,
I know you mean it just for play.
Don’t you know you really hurt me,
And this is what I have to say. ”
Repeat Chorus
See you later alligator, after ‘while crocodile,
See you later alligator,
So long, that’s all,
Goodbye

If you want to hear the original recording by the author, please click here to listen to Bobby Charles sing it.

If you are interested in reading about and listening to another song by Bill Haley and His Comets: “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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