About the song
“White Rabbit” is a seminal rock song written by Grace Slick and recorded by Jefferson Airplane for their 1967 album *Surrealistic Pillow*. The track draws upon the surreal imagery of Lewis Carroll’s beloved books, *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* and *Through the Looking-Glass*, to create a compelling musical journey that intertwines fantasy with reality.
Originally composed by Slick while she was still with her former band, the Great Society, “White Rabbit” initially saw limited success. However, when Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane in 1966, she brought “White Rabbit” with her, alongside her other composition, “Somebody to Love.” This move proved transformative for both the song and the band. Under Jefferson Airplane’s direction, “White Rabbit” was re-recorded with a more aggressive and captivating arrangement, leading it to become one of the band’s biggest hits. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked No. 478 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, maintaining its influential status through subsequent rankings.
The song’s lyrics use a rich tapestry of Carroll-inspired imagery to explore themes of curiosity and rebellion. Slick’s lyrics evoke the fantastical elements of Wonderland, such as the White Rabbit, the hookah-smoking caterpillar, and the Red Queen. Musically, “White Rabbit” features a hypnotic, crescendo-like build similar to Ravel’s *Boléro*, enhancing its immersive effect. Slick herself has stated that the composition was meant to be a “wake-up call” to those who might criticize drug use while embracing similar fantasy-driven narratives.
The music of “White Rabbit” is driven by a relentless rhythm and a haunting, memorable melody. It combines Slick’s sultry vocals with a Spanish-influenced march, a reflection of her admiration for Miles Davis’s *Sketches of Spain*. This innovative fusion of sounds and themes made “White Rabbit” a groundbreaking track that subtly incorporated drug references, evading censors and influencing the counterculture of the 1960s.
The song was praised for its bold experimentation and impactful delivery. Cash Box described it as “a real strong outing guaranteed to get lots of attention,” and Record World noted its “haunting lyric” and “Bolero sound.” Beyond its immediate success, “White Rabbit” has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is recognized on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
In essence, “White Rabbit” is not just a song but a cultural artifact that reflects the spirit of its time, merging literary imagination with rock music to capture the essence of an era marked by exploration and change.
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