The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It's dreamy weather we're on
You waved your crooked wand
Along an icy pond with a frozen moon
A murder of silhouette crows I saw
And the tears on my face
And the skates on the pond
They spell Alice
I disappear in your name
But you must wait for me
Somewhere across the sea
There's a wreck of a ship
Your hair is like meadow grass on the tide
And the raindrops on my window
And the ice in my drink
Baby all I can think of is Alice
Arithmetic arithmetock
Turn the hands back on the clock
How does the ocean rock the boat?
How did the razor find my throat?
The only strings that hold me here
Are tangled up around the pier
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I'm dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I'm dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
There's only Alice
You waved your crooked wand
Along an icy pond with a frozen moon
A murder of silhouette crows I saw
And the tears on my face
And the skates on the pond
They spell Alice
I disappear in your name
But you must wait for me
Somewhere across the sea
There's a wreck of a ship
Your hair is like meadow grass on the tide
And the raindrops on my window
And the ice in my drink
Baby all I can think of is Alice
Arithmetic arithmetock
Turn the hands back on the clock
How does the ocean rock the boat?
How did the razor find my throat?
The only strings that hold me here
Are tangled up around the pier
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I'm dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
And so a secret kiss
Brings madness with the bliss
And I will think of this
When I'm dead in my grave
Set me adrift and I'm lost over there
And I must be insane
To go skating on your name
And by tracing it twice
I fell through the ice
Of Alice
There's only Alice
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
Alice Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits Kathleen Brennan
Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I've always thought of this song as Lewis Carroll thinking about Alice Liddel. It's part of a musical Tom Waits wrote about Alice in Wonderland, I think, and it makes some sense. The "arithmetic" part could be a reference to Dogdson's career as a mathematician. Later on the CD, Alice replies in "I'm Still Here." A lot of the images are the same. The frozen pond and the broken watch, for example.
I remember reading somewhere that Alice Liddell gave a speech on Lewis Carroll and in it she mentioned that he would go ice skating with her and one time he fell and broke his watch. Makes sense when you look at the pair of songs, and the "arithmetok" thing. There seems to be a fascination with time, maybe because of the age difference. And "Wait for me" sounds like something a lover would say. As in "Wait until you're old enough."
I don't know if this makes sense or not. But the song really feels a lot like Charles' Dogdson's obsession with Alice. It's a wonderful song.
"And by tracing it twice / I fell through the ice / of Alice..."
I have to stop whatever I'm doing whenever this song comes on. Waits' imagery is haunting yet magical here. It took a while for me to really get into Waits, but I'm a true fan now. This song I think displays a high point in his song-writing abilities.
Its dreamy song were on. So beautiful. One of his best songs imo. Its so good it sounds like it could be an old classic from the 40's. Comparable to Louis Armstrong.
"How did the razor find my throat?" - At first I assumed that this meant a razor cutting a throat, but I've been thinking it could be referring to shaving; as in somehow finding motivation to continuine performing mundane tasks like shaving even though he's going through a deep state of depression.
Any thoughts?
This song is about obsession/paedophilia and yes the Dodgson (aka Lewis Carrol) / Alice Liddell affair is the vehicle we travel in. ' To go skating on your name And by tracing it twice' is an obvious metaphor for writing the 2 books Alice (in wonderland) and Alice (through the looking glass). 'The only strings that hold me here Are tangled up around the pier' tell us his obsession is unconsumated because of taboo. 'A murder of silhouette, crows I saw' Waits brilliantly paints the landscape parralleling his own demise with the totally correct collective noun for the carion bird . Is this also a metaphor for Dodgson the photographer (all black and white in those days) or maybe Dodgson the deacon. The crows being the black garb of his associates, priests carrion to his soul perhaps? So where does Waits go to when he falls through the ice in Al ICE's name. Well Alice goes to Wonderland when she falls down the rabbit hole but I think Waits here goes to Dreamland. You know the place in Coney Island where TableTop Joe hangs out. It is after all dreamy weather we are on.
...riiight. :|
Anyway, this is a really amazing song of lost love. Great lyrics.
oh the mood I get in listening to this song,,,,!
The album of ALice is was actually written (the musci was) for a German play about Charles Dogdson aka Lewis Caroll, and his pedapheliac lust for Alice Liddell. This song in perticular is startsthe theatricle play with Dodgsen recalling and longing for Liddell.
People who focus on the inspiration of Lewis Carroll/Alice Liddell as a primary narrative objective for this album completely miss the point. This album is not about paedophilia; Alice is representative of any person who will not or cannot requite the love of the narrator (who is presumably as ambiguous as he is as to allow transference for the listener). Alice is whatever the listener dearly yearns for but cannot attain--not merely that kid that Lewis Carroll liked.
well, at least, i'd hate to think he did. it would be like finding out that someone you've always considered flawless is only human...euch. none of that. anyway, i'm ranting. i'll stop now haha
I really have nothing relevant to add except in my own opinion this is Waits' best song. The atmosphere is haunting and majestic. Also Tom's lyrics are entrancing.