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Home » Nursery Rhymes

Published: Dec 8, 2022 by Birute Efe · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

See You Later, Alligator Lyrics, Origins and Video

Kids can say the strangest things when they wave goodbye to their friends. They do anything to delay leaving the place, even if they’ll be back the next day. See Your Later; Alligator is a fun way for preschoolers to say goodbye to their friends at the end of school time. 

The lyrics are quirky, silly, and written to make little ones laugh and go home with a smile on their faces. The title quickly became a catchphrase among mid-schoolers too. What’s more, there’s a famous rock and roll song by Bobby Charles with the same title. 

Find out more below!

Jump to:
  • Written Lyrics
  • Printable Lyrics 
  • Photo Lyrics 
  • Video Links
  • Origins and History
  • FAQs

Written Lyrics

One Version: 

See you later, alligator,
After a while, crocodile,
Blow a kiss, jellyfish.
Give a hug, ladybug,
See you soon, big baboon,
Out the door, dinosaur,
Take (good) care, polar bear,
Wave goodbye, butterfly.

*

Another Version:

See You Later Alligator
Toodle-oo, Kangaroo
Bye-bye Butterfly
Gotta go, Buffalo
See you later, Alligator, that’s all for now
Gotta go
See you later, Alligator, that’s all for now
Gotta go

Printable Lyrics 

Here is a printable PDF file with two versions of lyrics for the See You Later, Alligator rhyme.  

Photo Lyrics 

Save the below image on your device (attached). 

See You Later, Alligator 1200 x 1200

Video Links

Watch this cute video with a mash-up of lyrics from both versions: 

This video has a different set of lyrics with cute animal animations:

Origins and History

‘See You Later, Alligator’ is much like ‘after a while, crocodile’. The phrases have nothing to do with reptiles. The words are used because they rhyme and sound cool. There isn’t much information about where or how the phrase and the subsequent rhymes were created. 

However, research shows it could be from the US. It is a colloquial parting phrase in American English and is followed by a response of ‘after a while, crocodile’. Jackie and Jane, Star-Bulletin Teen Columnists, compiled a book titled Teenagers’ Slang Expressions Are Explained by Columnists in 1952. The collection was first published in Honolulu Star-Bulletin. This phrase was one of the slang terms described in it. 

In 1954, William Morris wrote Words, Wit and Wisdom, published in The Kansas City Times. It said the phrase meant saying goodbye when parting from a person. The same year, there was another publication in The Sunday Sun (Baltimore) that talked about how teenagers create their own slang terms to communicate with each other. 

Soon, it was used by kids and even preschoolers. More lines were added to turn it into a fun rhyme. The rhyme has no specific melody either. People from different regions use different lyrics and tunes to sing the rhyme. 

FAQs

Are there two albums with the same song as the rhyme?

Yes. American songwriter Robert Charles Guidry (Bobby Charles) wrote the lyrics for See you Later, Alligator in the early 1950s and it was recorded in 1955. The song was originally titled ‘Later, Alligator’.  
Bill Haley & His Comets, an American rock and roll band, recorded their version of the song in the same year. This version became more famous and was featured in Rock Around the Clock, a musical film. 

Can I make up lyrics for the rhyme? 

Absolutely! You can add your own lyrics to make the rhyme more fun and engaging. 

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Hi, I'm Birute! I've created playtivites to eliminate boring afternoons and family gatherings. With hundreds of family activities and play ideas, and crafts both parents and kids will enjoy.

More about me →

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