Newman was born near Big Mamou, Louisiana. As a child, he listened more to Gene Autry than to the Cajun music of the area, but had a number of Cajun songs in his repertoire when, as a teenager, he joined Chuck Guillory’s Rhythm Boys.
He recorded a few unsuccessful sides for J.D. Miller’s Future label in the 1940s, but Miller persuaded Fred Rose in Nashville, Tennessee to give the young singer an opportunity. In 1953, he was signed to Dot Records and the following year recorded "Cry, Cry Darling", which reached No. 4 on the country chart.
His recording success led the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, to hire him as a regular performer. His next four records all reached Top 10 status, and in 1956 he was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. That following year he released his biggest hit, "A Fallen Star", which spent two weeks at No. 2 and also entered the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
As an established artist, he began to integrate his Cajun influences into his music and recorded "Alligator Man", which was a top 25 record and continued to be his theme song at the Opry. In 1963, he released another top 10 hit, "The D.J. Cried". His final hits came in 1965 and 1966 with "Artificial Rose" and "Back Pocket Money". When his commercial popularity declined he returned to Cajun music, forming his Cajun Country band and taking the high energy fiddle- and accordion-based music of his native Louisiana to fans around the world. In 1976, his recording of the Cajun French song, "Lâche pas la patate" ("The Potato Song") earned gold record status in Canada. In 1991, Newman and Cajun Country earned a Grammy nomination for their album, Alligator Man.
In 2000, he was inducted into the North American Country Music Association’s International Hall of Fame and in 2004 was inducted into the Cajun Hall of Fame. He is also honored in the Cajun Music Hall of Fame in Lafayette, Louisiana, and in 2009 he was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Newman and his wife made their home on their 670-acre (2.7 km2) ranch outside of Nashville near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He continued to tour and appear regularly at the Grand Ole Opry, making his last appearance on the show on June 6, 2014. In 2006, he joined a select group of entertainers who have marked 50 years of Opry membership.
Newman died of cancer, in Nashville, on June 21, 2014.
Alligator Man
Jimmy C. Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is seldom seen dried land cause I'm an Alligator man
I hunt the gator all night long sell his hiding then I'm gone
I see the belles from bayou shanty love this Alligator man
This bayou country is my home and from this place I'll never roam
For I'm the leader of the clan oh I'm the Alligator man
When I bring my hides to town all the people gather round
They just want to shake the hand of the top gator man
Some people search their world for fame but fightin' gators is my game
And the scars on my hand cause I'm an Alligator man
Top gator man until I die when I marry by and by
A pretty belle from the bayou shant we'll raise a little gator man
The lyrics of Jimmy C. Newman’s Alligator Man can be seen as a celebration of the rugged and unconventional lifestyle of an alligator hunter in the bayou country. The opening lines set the scene, outlining a setting on undulating, marshy terrain where the singer sleeps under Spanish moss, and is constantly bothered by mosquitos. Then, he tells us that he is an Alligator Man, whose livelihood depends on hunting alligators in the swampy terrain. He’s proud of his profession and his scars stand as testament to his willingness to wrestle with the dangerous creatures.
The song goes on to paint a picture of the singer’s life – one of nightlong alligator hunts, hauling hides to town, and being lauded by admirers. His life is not driven by wealth or fame but by the satisfaction he derives from his passion - fighting, and ultimately defeating, alligators. However, it is also in the bayou country that he has found love and he looks forward to marrying a belle from the same area and raising a ‘little gator man’.
The song glorifies the Alligator Man’s life and is a reflection of a type of subculture that exists in the swamp-laden areas. It acknowledges the dangers that come with the profession, but the hunter's love for his profession and sense of ruggedness and freedom are clear. It also emphasizes a love of family and community, with the search for love and companionship being as symbolically important as his love for the craft.
Line by Line Meaning
Mosquitos buzzin' round my head Spanish moss for my bed
I live in a swampy area, where mosquitos are always around me and I sleep on a bed of Spanish moss.
There is seldom seen dried land cause I'm an Alligator man
There isn't much dry land in my area because I live in the swamp and my job is to hunt alligators.
I hunt the gator all night long sell his hiding then I'm gone
My job is to hunt alligators at night and sell their hides. After that, I leave the swamp.
I see the belles from bayou shanty love this Alligator man
Women from the surrounding area love me because I'm a skilled and successful alligator hunter.
This bayou country is my home and from this place I'll never roam
I love living in this swampy area and I will never leave it.
For I'm the leader of the clan oh I'm the Alligator man
I am the leader of the group of alligator hunters in this area. I am the Alligator man.
When I bring my hides to town all the people gather round
When I sell the alligator hides in town, people gather around because I am well-known and respected for my skills.
They just want to shake the hand of the top gator man
The people in town want to shake my hand because I am the best alligator hunter in the area.
Some people search their world for fame but fightin' gators is my game
Some people look for fame in different areas, but I find my success in fighting and hunting alligators.
And the scars on my hand cause I'm an Alligator man
The scars on my hand are proof of my dangerous job as an alligator hunter. I am the Alligator man.
Top gator man until I die when I marry by and by
I will continue to be the top alligator hunter until I die, but eventually, I want to get married.
A pretty belle from the bayou shant we'll raise a little gator man
I plan to marry a beautiful woman from the surrounding area, and we will raise a son who will become an alligator hunter like me.
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@georgepugh9863
My mother loved this song.
@brayleighelaine4950
My dad showed me this song when I was 8 it always reminds me of him. This song owns my childhood. love this song so much❤️
@6711BC
LOve it since I first heard it maybe 50 years ago?
@henrykujawa4427
I'll tell you what really cracks me up. I've been a fan of the movie "DRACULA A.D. 1972" for 40 years, and it took me that long before I found out the song "Alligator Man" that Stoneground performed at that party was a cover of a COUNTRY tune. Now I love both versions (which could hardly be more different), and I keep imagining in my head how that movie might have been totally different in style if Count Dracula had come back from the dead in a 1960 Louisiana bayou swamp area.
@guptilgaither332
Watching this movie rn made me look up the song, imagine my surprise at it being 60s country 😂
@c5scottman
RIP Jimmy C. Newman. I only discovered this song today and it will stay with me for the rest of my life!
@JWGauntt
appreciate you listening, glad you enjoyed it
@lindarich9557
Rip jimmy c Newman u will always b remembered as the alligator man ur music will always b around and loved
@sandyschannel6917
That man could really sing, I listened to his music as a kid and still love it
@mikepalmer2265
this is the best version! love that ratchet sound!