About the song
Certainly! Here’s a detailed introduction to the song “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane:
“White Rabbit” is one of the most iconic songs from the 1960s, performed by the pioneering psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. Released in 1967 as part of their album “Surrealistic Pillow,” the song is a testament to the era’s counterculture and its fascination with expanding consciousness. The haunting and hypnotic track was written by Grace Slick, the band’s lead vocalist, who drew inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic tales “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass.”
Grace Slick’s distinctive voice leads listeners through a musical journey that mirrors Alice’s descent into a fantastical world, with lyrics that reference various elements of Carroll’s stories, such as the White Rabbit, the hookah-smoking caterpillar, and the Queen of Hearts. The song’s crescendo builds to an intense climax, symbolizing the peak of the psychedelic experience.
“White Rabbit” became an anthem for the countercultural movement and is renowned for its innovative fusion of rock and classical music elements, particularly the bolero rhythm that underpins the track. Upon its release, the song reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, cementing its place in the annals of rock history.
The track was a standout on “Surrealistic Pillow,” an album that played a crucial role in establishing Jefferson Airplane as one of the leading bands of the San Francisco music scene. The album itself is often regarded as a cornerstone of the 1960s psychedelic rock genre.
Over the decades, “White Rabbit” has maintained its relevance and influence, appearing in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials. It continues to be celebrated for its bold lyrics, innovative composition, and the way it captures the spirit of a transformative time in American culture.
Video
lyrics
One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you’re going to fall
Tell ’em a hookah-smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small
When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she’ll know
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen’s off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head