White Rabbit

Emiliana Torrini's rendition of 'White Rabbit' is a haunting and evocative exploration of altered states of consciousness, drawing heavily from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' The song's lyrics are rich with references to the fantastical world of Alice, using it as a metaphor for the mind-expanding experiences induced by psychedelic substances. The opening lines, 'One pill makes you larger / And one pill makes you small,' immediately set the tone, suggesting the transformative power of these substances, which can alter perception and reality in profound ways.

The recurring advice to 'Go ask Alice' serves as a guiding mantra throughout the song, positioning Alice as a symbol of curiosity and exploration. The imagery of 'chasing rabbits' and encountering a 'hookah-smokin' caterpillar' further cements the connection to Carroll's work, where these characters lead Alice deeper into a world where the usual rules of logic and proportion no longer apply. This descent into a surreal, dreamlike state is mirrored in the song's progression, as the lyrics become increasingly disjointed and abstract.

The final verses, with their references to the 'white knight talking backwards' and the 'red queen's off with her head,' depict a world where conventional logic has collapsed. The repeated exhortation to 'Feed your head' can be interpreted as a call to expand one's mind and embrace new ways of thinking, even if they defy traditional logic. Torrini's ethereal voice adds an additional layer of mystique to the song, making it a compelling invitation to explore the boundaries of perception and reality.