See You Later Alligator

Zydeco-Gator Reality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K3n0bodrV4

“See ya later, alligator—
After while, crocodile”
— Robert Charles Guidry,
“Later Alligator” (1955)

Deep in the swampy bayous of Southwest Louisiana—there’s a big bad alligator just waitin’ to getcha, baby!!!

He be sleepin’ down there—under the gnarled cypress stumps. Just waitin’ for you to come gliding by—in your little bitty pirogue, so he can tip it over and gobble you right up real good. Hmm-hmm.

.

See ya later, alligator. After while, crocodile!!!

Zydeco-Gator consciousness is something else—it’s a rather crude, primitive “meat-brain reality” thing. Most Creole and Cajuns growing up down there—come by it naturally, as naturally as anything human beings can do. A couple of my boyfriends in the dorm at LSU—taught me how to do it.

First you get loaded real good—like after a midnight poker game with the boyz. Way out there—in some lonely bayou cabin in the swamp. Then you let one of the guyz—take you pirogue-boating out there in the still of the night. With the moonlight shining down through the Spanish moss. The Night is a living thing.

After awhile, he’ll take a crawdad outta the sack—and snap the head off. Then he’ll say “Okay, city-boy, now suck the juice outta the head.”

I know it sounds disgusting—I shudder even now when I think about it. Especially when the crawdad’s still alive—they use the tail for bait when they’re fishing.

I did it though—and after awhile sure enough. I began to feel Zydeco-Gator consciousness—running through me all smooth and easy. I got to meet a lot of young handsome Cajun boyz that way—sucking the juice from the head.

I don’t know how many weekends—I spent out there visiting my Cajun-Creole boyfriends. It felt good to get away from campus—the lifestyle was perfect for the hippie dayz back then. I barely graduated—that’s how much I loved Zydeco-Gator boyz.

Looking back on it now—from here in the temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest. I doubt if I could survive the heat and humidity—down there in Louisiana again. The laidback laissez-faire Big Easy attitude—stretching up from New Orleans, that ancient Carib seaport. Up through the bayous and swamps of the Pelican State—Zydeco consciousness almost sucked me in completely.

My palms still get damp—just thinkin’ about it.

______

"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

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"