See you later alligator
Buddy Holly Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I saw my baby walkin'
With another man today
Well, I saw my baby walkin'
With another man today
When I asked her what's the matter
This is what I heard her say

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

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

[Instrumental Interlude]

She said, I'm sorry pretty baby
You know my love is just for you
She said, I'm sorry pretty baby
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 meant it just for play
I said wait a minute 'gator
I know you meant it just for play
Don't you know you really hurt me
And this is what I have to say

See you later alligator
After 'while crocodile




See you later alligator
So long, that's all, goodbye

Overall Meaning

The song "See you later alligator" by Buddy Holly features lyrics that describe a young man who sees his girlfriend walking with another man. His girlfriend tells him that he is "cramping her style" and says, "see you later alligator." The song continues to relay their conversations and the singer's emotional turmoil. But towards the end of the song, his girlfriend apologizes and confirms her love for the singer.


The lyrics are very straightforward; the singer is in pain due to his girlfriend leaving him, and he tries to understand the reason behind their breakup. His girlfriend's intention was never to hurt him, and she was merely trying to "play" around. There is a sense of light-hearted humor in this song, evident through the colloquialism of "see you later alligator" and the response of "after while crocodile." The song is a testament to the 1950s era of pop culture, where catchy and carefree music dominated the airwaves.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I saw my baby walkin' / With another man today
I saw my girlfriend walking with another guy


When I asked her what's the matter / This is what I heard her say
I asked her what's going on, and she said:


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
I'm breaking up with you; you're getting in the way of my happiness


When I thought of what she told me / Nearly made me lose my head
When I thought about what she said, I almost lost my mind


But the next time that I saw her / Reminded her of what she said
But when I saw her again, I reminded her of her words


She said, I'm sorry pretty baby / You know my love is just for you
She apologized and said that she only loves me


Won't you say that you'll forgive me / And say your love for me is true
Will you forgive me and declare your love for me?


Don't you know you really hurt me / And this is what I have to say
You hurt me deeply, and I have to respond


See you later alligator / After 'while crocodile / See you later alligator / So long, that's all, goodbye
I'm really breaking up with you, and I'm not looking back




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network
Written by: Robert Charles Guidry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@silberlinie

Hello young folks.

I am 82 and I also heard this song for the first
time with my friend who emigrated to usa at
the end of school.

I am in Cologne, Germany.

Today, more precisely just now, I dialogued
with ChatGPT about it



All comments from YouTube:

@dangerouspie22

My mum's last words when she passed away ....see you later alligator

@maxmiliankupka7145

bullshit

@muireannbee1971

dangerouspie22 every time I go to bed my mum is like ‘see you later alligator ‘ and I always reply with ‘ not for awhile crocodile 😂, I’m sorry about your mum 😔

@corzwann4185

Sos sad sorry for your mam

@someoneontheinternetuvenev6268

Is this real or is it a joke

@garfieldthelasangacat1622

@ilovegumz yes

134 More Replies...

@profile1674

Whenever my mom had visitors and they left her house she'd always say "See you later, alligator" by way of goodbye. She grew up in the golden years of rock 'n' roll and loved that music until the very end. When she suddenly passed away, we had her cremated, and when the urn with her ashes was carried out of the church, we had this song playing as a final goodbye to her. You're being missed a lot, mom, yet I am happy you're not around to face the wide-awake nightmare that life has become nowadays. Thank you for making me the person I am today. I have not said it enough when you were still here, but I love you.

@birgitleimbach2279

You are so right Profile 1

@potter3439

Very well said

@karlaerazo2935

I truly sad with your WORDS.
Im studying English. But I can feel and understand your feelings Without doubt

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