From the recording Abandoning Alice
This song came out of hours of watching political talking heads and seeing the unbelievable news headlines day in and day out for the past six months. It captures the severe disorientation that a regular citizen feels, no matter what side of the political spectrum. I had been writing lyrics when my husband played me a guitar riff he’d been working on. Instantly, the lyrics found a musical home. We brought in our friend Marco Moir, writer of “Lover A lot” (by Aerosmith), to beef up the music and arrangement, and “Abandoning Alice” is the result.
Lyrics
“Abandoning Alice”
Written by Jenny James, Chas Ferry, and Marco Moir
©2024
Verse #1:
World is upside-down to me
Nothing makes any sense
The rabbits seem kinda gloomy
Cheshire cats are in need of defense
High tea is shabby at best
Politeness is in short supply
Alzheimer’s patients pass cognitive tests
And even the truth is a lie . . .
Chorus:
Abandoning Alice, lives in a world of her own . . .
Hidden in her own little palace—importance overblown.
Verse #2:
Time to disappear down the hole—
‘Cuz it’s dark and cool and serene . . .
At least down here, I know my role
And I can play a card game that’s clean—
Chorus:
Abandoning Alice ‘cuz our conspiracies clash
Not done with any malice--but I’m jumpin’ through the Lookingglass . . .
Verse #3:
Don’t wanna court the Queen of Hearts—
She just isn’t my style—
But isn’t this just how the whole game starts—
Living in fear and denial.
Chorus:
Abandoning Alice—gotta save my own personal ass
Abandoning Alice—by jumpin’ through the Lookingglass—
Bridge:
Mad Hatter is spinning away—
I’m feeling woozy inside—
Whiplash is the price that we all pay
When our worldviews collide . . .
Chorus:
Abandoning Alice—don’t wanna live here no more—
Hopin’ no one thinks I’m callous; but can’t take what I think is in store—
Abandoning Alice ‘cuz our conspiracies they clash
Not done with any malice--but I’m jumpin’ through the Lookingglass . . .
Yeah, I’m jumpin’ through the Lookingglass . . .