Crocodile Rock

This song tells the story of a guy who in the '50s and '60s frequented a restaurant where the patrons loved an obscure dance called the Crocodile Rock. With all the events that happened in the '60s, this little-known dance vanished from history and no one cared anymore. Even his girlfriend, who also enjoyed "burning up to the Crocodile Rock," left him. It's a catchy little song with really sad lyrics.

There is a distinct '50s musical theme in this song. Elton said that it contains flavors of a lot of his favorite early rock songs, including "Little Darlin'," "At The Hop" and "Oh Carol," as well as songs by The Beach Boys and Eddie Cochran. The title is a play on the Bill Haley song "See You Later Alligator" - Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" even gets a mention, as that's what the other kids were listening to while our hero was doing the Crocodile Rock.

Most people love "Crocodile Rock" or at least tolerate it, but there is a faction that can't stand the song, often because it was so overplayed. They can take comfort knowing that Elton's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, doesn't care for it either. He told Esquire in 2011 that it's "a strange dichotomy because I don't mind having created it, but it's not something I would listen to."