Alice

Tom Waits

About Alice

Alice is a song by Tom Waits appearing on his 2002 album Alice.


Year:
2002
4:28
405 
#5

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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

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Tom Waits

Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car." With this trademark growl, his incorporation of pre-rock music styles such as blues, jazz, and vaudeville, and experimental tendencies verging on industrial music, Waits has built up a distinctive musical persona. He has worked as a composer for movies and musical plays and has acted in supporting roles in films including Paradise Alley and Bram Stoker's Dracula; he also starred in the 1986 film Down by Law. He was nominated for an Academy Awa… more »

10 fans

Written by: Kathleen Brennan, Thomas Alan Waits

Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Alice" is a song written and performed by the American singer-songwriter Tom Waits. It is the title track of his 2002 studio album.
Genre Classification
The song and the album "Alice" are classified under the genres of experimental rock, jazz, and blues.
Inspiration
The album "Alice" is inspired by Waits' unfinished play, which he co-wrote with his wife Kathleen Brennan in the early 1990s. The play, also called "Alice," is based on Lewis Carroll's obsessions with Alice Liddell, who inspired his "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
Delayed Release
Even though the majority of the "Alice" album was written and recorded in 1992, it was not released until 2002 - ten years later.
Co-Producers
Both the "Alice" song and album were co-produced by Tom Waits and his wife, Kathleen Brennan. The couple has collaborated on much of Waits' work since they got married in 1980.
Album Achievements
The "Alice" album has been critically acclaimed. For instance, it achieved the rank of #2 on Metacritic's list of best-reviewed albums, which draws multiple music critic reviews.
Song Style
The title track "Alice" stands out for its melancholic tunes and Waits' raspy voice. Its slow tempo and haunting lyrics are emblematic of Waits' style.
Lyrics Theme
Thematically, the song "Alice" explores feelings of longing, loss, and unrequited love.
Song Duration
The song "Alice" lasts for approximately 4 minutes and 28 seconds.
Musical Structure
The song is primarily composed of minimal instrumentation, featuring piano, bass, and percussion, providing a forlorn and contemplative audio landscape.
High Chart Position
Despite its avant-garde approach, the "Alice" album charted at #32 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

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