Crocodiles (Live)

Song Meaning

The narrator is grappling with a disturbing revelation, something they encountered in a magazine and desperately wish to unsee. This initial shock triggers a profound aversion to revisiting the past or even acknowledging its approach, creating a palpable sense of avoidance. The repeated "I don't wanna look back" underscores this immediate, visceral reaction to painful information. This avoidance, however, is contrasted with a need for understanding, as the narrator "looked for someone to explain." Yet, the lyrics pivot to a more generalized, almost instructional tone, urging the listener to confront unsettling experiences. The advice to "listen to the ups and downs" and "don't be scared when it gets loud" suggests that facing discomfort is key, even when "skin begins to shake." The most striking imagery arrives with the "alligator shoes" and the narrator's "crocodiles." This juxtaposition highlights a stark difference in how individuals cope with distress. While one person is visibly "got the blues," the narrator claims to be "all smiles" because they possess their "crocodiles" – perhaps a metaphor for internalized, managed anxieties or a defiant embrace of their own inner turmoil. The repeated anecdote about delaying actions until "tomorrow" serves as a critique of procrastination and denial, mirroring the narrator's own initial impulse to avoid. By presenting this simple exchange, the lyrics suggest that true progress, or at least a more honest engagement with life, requires present action rather than deferred confrontation. The effectiveness lies in this layered portrayal of avoidance, the call to face fear, and the subtle critique of inaction.