White Rabbit
Patti Smith Lyrics


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One pill makes you larger
One pill makes you small
And the one 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 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
Feed your head"

Overall Meaning

Patti Smith's song White Rabbit is a cover of the Jefferson Airplane classic song that tells the story of Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The song is a psychedelic journey that draws on the book's themes of altered states of mind, fantasy, and logic. The lyrics are an invitation to embrace the experience of tripping on psychedelic drugs such as LSD, mescaline or psilocybin, as one can see in the opening 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." In other words, the song speaks of the distortions of perception that drugs can evoke, as well as the idea that traditional medicine won't work to attain a higher state of consciousness.


The chorus of the song "Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall" references Alice growing in size or growing taller in the book from eating a cake with "Eat me" written on it. The lyrics "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" refers to the character the Caterpillar who Alice consults for advice. Meanwhile, the references to the chessboard and the White Knight are a reference to the game that Alice plays in Wonderland, where the rules are arbitrary and the pieces are alive.


Overall, Patti Smith's version of the song evokes a sense of danger and unease as she sings with her unique vocal style. The song reminds the listener of the chaotic nature of the book, with its trippy and hypnotic qualities. In conclusion, White Rabbit captures the essence of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and delivers its message through the medium of psychedelic rock.


Line by Line Meaning

One pill makes you larger
There are substances that make you feel more powerful.


One pill makes you small
There are substances that make you feel weak and insignificant.


And the one that mother gives you
Despite your expectations or wishes for a different kind of experience, your mother might simply give you what she deems safe.


Don't do anything at all
The prescribed medication or treatment might not have the desired effect.


Go ask Alice
Referring to someone or something (Alice) that might have more experience than you in certain fields and whose advice should be sought.


When she's ten feet tall
When this person or thing appears to be larger than life.


And if you go chasing rabbits
If you pursue something that is elusive or difficult to catch.


And you know you're going to fall
And you are aware that this endeavor might go wrong or not produce the desired results.


Tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Say that an unexpected, perhaps even surreal, encounter has led you on this path.


Has given you the call
The sense that you are being summoned or somehow guided by other entities or forces than your own will.


Call Alice
Seek help or guidance from someone with more experience and wisdom than you have.


When she was just small
Even those who were once small and seemingly powerless can have a perspective on life that is insightful and valuable.


When men on the chessboard
When other people (symbolized by chess pieces) try to dictate your moves and actions.


Get up and tell you where to go
When they try to boss you around or give unsolicited advice.


And you've just had some kind of mushroom
When you are under the influence of substances that distort your perception and judgment.


And your mind is moving low
And you feel disoriented, confused, or unsure of what is happening around you.


Go ask Alice
Again, seek guidance from someone more experienced than you in navigating altered states of consciousness.


I think she'll know
This person is likely to have encountered similar situations and therefore might have valuable insights.


When logic and proportion
When the predictable, rational ways of understanding the world break down.


Have fallen sloppy dead
When nothing makes sense, and order is replaced by chaos.


And the White Knight is talking backwards
When even characters and symbols that were once associated with stability and order seem to have been distorted by the chaos.


And the Red Queen's off with her head
When the powerful turn on others, and even seemingly stable institutions or entities are dismantled.


Remember what the dormouse said
A reminder to look for wisdom and guidance in unexpected places or from unexpected sources.


"Feed your head, feed your head
This wisdom, once found, should be internalized and made part of you. You should seek to expand your understanding of the world and yourself, even in difficult or chaotic times.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Grace Wing Slick

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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