Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Connie graduated from Campbell Collegiate in Regina in 1972 and the University of Alberta in 1976 with a BFA degree in theatre. She performed with various theatre groups, including Theatre Passe Muraille, The Mummers, and 25th Street House Theatre, until 1979, when she gave it up to start a full-time music career.
In 1981, she founded her own independent record label, Coyote Entertainment, and has released fourteen albums. In 1997 she was featured performer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on the last broadcast of Peter Gzowski's CBC national radio program Morningside.
She has won the Juno Award for best children's album three times. She won it in 1989, 2004, and 2005. However, most of her music is for adults. She co-wrote a song for the animated television series based on the comic strip For Better or For Worse, which debuted in 2000.
She is married to music producer and Hart-Rouge member Paul Campagne. They live in Montreal.
Her song "Wanderlust" was covered by Cosy Sheridan.
In 2003, her television show Wood River Hall debuted on VisionTV.
In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
The Alligator Waltz
Connie Kaldor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La-la-la-la hmmmmm
The alligator waltz
La-la-lala hmmmmmm
They come in groups of two
Promising that they won't fight
They hoochy kootchy kootchy koo
It's tail-to-tail and nose-to-nose
Oh-they love to hold each other close
At the stroke of midnight
They start swaying to and fro
And by the swampy green moonlight
You should see them dance the tango
Sliding slowly and holding near
Whispering romantic things in the ear
The alligator waltz is quite the formal do
It's tux and tails and fancy gowns
And alligator shoes
By the vine and cicada bug
Boy can they ever cut the rug
The alligator waltz is by invitation only
And I'm afraid that you won't find
An alligator who is lonely
But if you hear on a swampy breeze
A fast fox trot and a one, two, three
The alligator waltz
La-la-la-la hmmmmm
It's the alligator waltz
You can hear them humming in the moonlight
To the alligator waltz
I'll bet you didn't know an alligator could hum
Did ya?
In Connie Kaldor's "The Alligator Waltz", we are presented with a playful and imaginative picture of alligators dancing the waltz. The song's cheerful melody and catchy refrain of "La-la-la-la hmmmmm" sets the tone for this fanciful narrative. The lyrics describe alligators that approach in pairs, promising not to fight, as they attempt to dance the waltz without biting each other. Kaldor's playful use of language, as seen in "hoochy kootchy kootchy koo", adds to the whimsical nature of the song. The alligators are described as loving to hold each other close and whispering romantic things in each other's ears. As midnight strikes, the alligators begin swaying to and fro, dancing the tango, sliding slowly and holding near.
The song is humorously descriptive in its portrayal of the alligator waltz, featuring alligator shoes, and even tuxedos and fancy gowns. However, it is important to note that the invitation-only nature of the alligator waltz suggests a sense of exclusivity and perhaps even danger. Even so, Kaldor's lyrics remain lighthearted and playful throughout the song, ending with a final, surprising twist as we learn that alligators can also hum.
Overall, "The Alligator Waltz" is a fun and imaginative song that transports listeners to a world where alligators dance and hum the waltz. It is an example of Kaldor's ability to bring to life unique and unexpected stories through her music.
Line by Line Meaning
The alligator waltz
This song is about the alligator waltz
La-la-la-la hmmmmm
Instrumental sound representing the waltz rhythm
The alligator waltz
This song is about the alligator waltz
La-la-lala hmmmmmm
Instrumental sound representing the waltz rhythm
They come in groups of two
Alligators approach each other in pairs
Promising that they won't fight
Alligators try to behave peacefully
They hoochy kootchy kootchy koo
Alligators make affectionate sounds
Trying so hard not to bite
Alligators resist their natural instinct to attack
It's tail-to-tail and nose-to-nose
Alligators stand very close to each other
Oh-they love to hold each other close
Alligators enjoy physical proximity
At the stroke of midnight
The waltz starts at midnight
They start swaying to and fro
Alligators dance the waltz by moving rhythmically
And by the swampy green moonlight
The dance is illuminated by the moonlight
You should see them dance the tango
Alligators also dance the tango
Sliding slowly and holding near
Alligators dance gracefully while embracing
Whispering romantic things in the ear
Alligators express tender feelings
The alligator waltz is quite the formal do
The waltz is a fancy, formal event
It's tux and tails and fancy gowns
Alligators dress up for the occasion
And alligator shoes
Even their shoes are made of alligator skin
By the vine and cicada bug
The dance takes place in a natural setting
Boy can they ever cut the rug
Alligators are great dancers
The alligator waltz is by invitation only
Only selected alligators are invited to the waltz
And I'm afraid that you won't find
It's unlikely that you will witness this event
An alligator who is lonely
Alligators attend the waltz as couples
But if you hear on a swampy breeze
You may hear the music from the distance
A fast fox trot and a one, two, three
The alligator waltz is a slow dance, this is not it
To the alligator waltz
The lyrics refer to the music playing
La-la-la-la hmmmmm
Instrumental sound representing the waltz rhythm
It's the alligator waltz
This song is about the alligator waltz
You can hear them humming in the moonlight
The alligators make humming sounds while dancing
To the alligator waltz
The lyrics refer to the music playing
I'll bet you didn't know an alligator could hum
The songwriter expresses a funny thought about alligators humming
Writer(s): Connie Isabel Kaldor
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.