Alice

Tom Waits' song 'Alice' is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of longing, memory, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a dreamlike landscape where the protagonist is enveloped in a melancholic reverie, fixated on a figure named Alice. The imagery of 'dreamy weather,' 'icy pond,' and 'frozen moon' sets a surreal and almost otherworldly tone, suggesting that Alice is more of a spectral presence than a tangible person. The 'crooked wand' and 'murder of silhouette crows' add a touch of dark magic, hinting at the elusive and perhaps unattainable nature of Alice.

The recurring motif of ice and coldness throughout the song symbolizes emotional distance and the fragility of the protagonist's state of mind. The line 'I'll disappear in your name' suggests a deep sense of loss and the desire to be consumed by the memory of Alice. The mention of 'the wreck of a ship' and 'your hair like meadow grass on the tide' evokes a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time, as if the protagonist is adrift in a sea of memories. The arithmetic references, 'Arithmetic, Arithmetock,' and the act of turning back the clock, underscore the futile attempt to reclaim lost time and moments with Alice.

The song's climax reveals the protagonist's descent into madness, driven by the obsessive memory of Alice. The 'secret kiss' that 'brings madness with the bliss' encapsulates the duality of love and pain. The final lines, 'Set me adrift and I'm lost over there,' and 'I must be insane to go skating on your name,' highlight the protagonist's realization of the futility and danger of clinging to the past. The repeated mention of 'Alice' at the end signifies that, despite the madness and the passage of time, the memory of Alice remains an inescapable part of the protagonist's existence.