About the song
“White Rabbit,” performed by Jefferson Airplane, is a captivating song that has etched its place in the annals of rock music history. Released in 1967, this track stands out as a quintessential piece of the psychedelic rock era. The song was written by Grace Slick, who joined Jefferson Airplane in 1966 and brought with her a distinctive voice and creative vision that significantly influenced the band’s sound.
“White Rabbit” was featured on Jefferson Airplane’s second studio album, “Surrealistic Pillow,” an album that played a critical role in defining the countercultural movement of the 1960s. The song is renowned for its surreal and evocative lyrics, which draw heavily from Lewis Carroll’s classic tales “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass.” With its driving, hypnotic rhythm and crescendoing structure, “White Rabbit” creates a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors the psychedelic experiences that were emblematic of the time.
Grace Slick’s lyrics, filled with vivid imagery and allusions to mind-altering experiences, resonated deeply with the youth of the 1960s, who were exploring new realms of consciousness and questioning societal norms. The song’s line, “Feed your head,” became an anthem for the era’s spirit of exploration and rebellion.
“White Rabbit” achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its impact extended beyond just commercial metrics, however, as it became a defining track of the Summer of Love and a staple of classic rock radio. The song’s innovative blending of rock with classical influences, particularly through its Boléro-like rhythm, set it apart from other hits of the period.
“Surrealistic Pillow,” bolstered by the success of “White Rabbit” and other hits like “Somebody to Love,” cemented Jefferson Airplane’s status as one of the pioneering bands of the San Francisco rock scene. Over the years, “White Rabbit” has maintained its cultural relevance, continuing to be featured in films, television shows, and as a cover by various artists, further solidifying its place as a timeless classic in the rock music canon.
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