White Rabbit

Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit' is a song that became an anthem of the 1960s counterculture movement, particularly associated with the psychedelic experience. The lyrics draw heavily from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass,' using the fantastical elements and characters from these stories as metaphors for the mind-expanding and reality-altering effects of psychedelic drugs. The opening lines, 'One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small,' directly reference the pills that Alice takes to change her size in the Wonderland narrative, symbolizing the transformative power of these substances.

The song continues to weave in characters like the hookah-smoking caterpillar and the chessboard men, suggesting a world where traditional logic and proportion have been upended. This reflects the altered states of consciousness and perception that can occur under the influence of psychedelics. The repeated advice to 'Go ask Alice' implies seeking wisdom or insight from someone who has experienced this otherworldly journey. The closing lines, 'Remember what the Dormouse said, Feed your head,' serve as a call to expand one's mind and consciousness, which was a prevalent ethos among the youth of the 1960s who were seeking to break free from the constraints of mainstream society.

The cultural impact of 'White Rabbit' is significant, as it encapsulates the spirit of an era that was deeply invested in exploring consciousness and challenging the status quo. Jefferson Airplane, with their psychedelic rock sound, became icons of this movement, and 'White Rabbit' remains one of their most enduring and influential songs. The song's use of literary allusion to comment on contemporary issues of its time makes it a powerful piece of musical and cultural history.