Download Instrumental    Elton John should have named this song “Susie Rocks”. The very first line is “I remember when rock was young, me and Susie had so much fun”. Then it’s “Susie wore her dresses tight”. Then our girl splits the scene – “Susie went and left us for some foreign guy”.  That Susie was quite the character.

In 1972, Elton and Bernie Taupin (his lyricist) were so addicted to cocaine that some say this song is about their drug use.  I hope not.  I prefer to think of it as a zany tune about a dance craze that took place while the other kids were “rockin’ around the clock”.  There isn’t any reference to Crocodile Rock being a dance in the lyrics but, please, let that be the case.   We don’t need any deep, dark, ominous meanings to a song that is so much fun.  And it is fun – to both sing and play – especially if you’re a piano player.  So put these backups in your repertoire, singers.  Okay, my ending is a little off the wall, but you can deal with it – use your imagination.

Come to think of it, I do know several “Susies” at this point in my life.  But none of them would have worn tight dresses or had so much fun running off with a foreigner.  Well… there is one I know who might have been just a touch “wild” in her younger days.  I won’t name names… Susie.  You know who you are.