Crocodile

(Partridge)

“Crocodile” vignette from Nonsvch

Recordings Art Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Album version, 3'56.
   Released on Nonsuch.
   Andy Partridge - Vocals, backing vocals & electric guitar
   Dave Mattacks - Drums & amphibious sample
   Colin Moulding - Bass guitar
   Dave Gregory - Electric guitars & solo

   Andy: “The most basic thing on the album - a noisy pop song about jealousy. It's about putting a shape to an emotion that we've all felt, the shape of a crocodile. The beast comes to live with you, and then devours you if you're not careful.”

2. Demo version.
   Recorded on 5 April 1990.
   Released in September 2004 on Fuzzy Warbles Volume Five in the U.K.

   Andy: “Believe it or not the title from this came from an Early Learning Centre kids percussion toy bought for Holly or Harry. It was a guiro style scraper shaped like a long green crocodile, and when you're casting your eyes around for inspiration... . Mr. Croc appears as himself on every chorus, getting his back scratched. 5th April 1990.”

Art

Lyrics

Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
That she left me for him
Scene one standing
Crushed on landing
You may have walked out
But I'll swallow up my fate
Scene two sitting
Man in kitchen
Bit cold and lifeless like
The burger on my plate
But there's one emotion I'm afraid of
Hear him scratching gently to be fed
I can't stand it when he sits there smiling
I don't want him nesting in my head
Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
That she left me for him
Get away
Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
I'm not letting you in
Scene three lying (through his backteeth)
Speared and dying (bitten beneath)
I'll crawl the wall to hand there
Skinned and stuffed with drink
But there's one emotion I'm controlling
Green eyed monster with his jaws spread wide
(But he's your pet now
You can't run away and hide)
I can't stand it when he sits there crying
I don't want to throw myself inside
Crocodile
Getaway
(Crocodile
With the jaded jealous smile)

© 1992 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

Chords and Tablature

Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 20:39:26 +0100 (BST)
From: PAUL FERGUSON <p.ferguson1 (at) lancaster dot ac dot uk>
Subject: crocodile chords


Crocodile - guitar chords
-------------------------

     Note:- Gsus+4 is   --3--
                        --3--
                        --6--
                        --5--
                        --5--
                        --3--

Chorus
------

A  D B D          G             A                F#m         Gsus+4, G, E
Crocodile, no you won't make me jealous that she left me for him


Verse
-----

A                                     F#m            B
Scene one standing, crushed on landing, you may have walked out but I'll


E             A      A7, A
Swallow up my fate

A                                F#m            B
Scene two sitting, man in kitchen, bit cold and lifeless like the

E            A
burger on my plate


Bridge
------
Em
  But there's one emotion I'm afraid of,

G+
  hear him scratching gently to be fed,

G
  I can't stand it when he sits there smiling,

F#m                              E      F
  I don't want him nesting in my head


Chorus

A  D B D         G             A                F#m         Gsus+4      G
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous that she left me for him, so getaway

A  D B D         G             A               F#m         Gsus+4, G, E
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous I'm not letting you in


Verse

A... F#m, B, E, A

Bridge

Em, G+, G, F#m, E, F

Chorus

A  D B D         G             A                F#m         Gsus+4      G
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous that she left me for him, so getaway

A  D B D         G             A               F#m         Gsus+4     E
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous I'm not letting you in, so getawaaay


Guitar solo

B, D, G, A, F#m, Gsus+4, G

Chorus

A  D B D         G             A                F#m         Gsus+4      G
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous that she left me for him, so getaway

A  D B D         G             A               F#m         Gsus+4
Crocodile no you won't make me jealous I'm not letting you in


Coda

Play Gsus+4 to fade, over a bass of G, F#, E, E, F#, G, F#, E, E, F#...

From: dschmidt (at) athena dot mit dot edu
Date: Mon, 11 May 92 13:34:22 -0400

* Crocodile

crocodile    no you won't make me jealous
A   D B    D         G             A       F#m  G (then descending bass line
                                                     of G F# E D C# B A)
verses:
E ---0------ lots of A (this is the guitar for the "call and response")
B -20--2---- F#m B7 E7 A
G 2-----2---
D -------42-

Disclaimer: I've only listened to the album a few times and I haven't
actually tried any of these on my guitar yet.  Use at your own risk.
I'll try to figure out some of them for real, and maybe even bother
with the bridges!

Go back to XTC Reel by Real.