What are the Lyrics for "Whiter Shade of Pale"? What are they about?

Answer 1

It was 'sixth member' Keith Reid who had the idea for the song, at a 'gathering' 'Some guy looked at a chick and said to her, 'You've gone a whiter shade of pale. That phrase stuck in my mind. It was a beautiful thing for someone to say. I wish I'd said it,' laughed Keith, while Gary put down his cup of coffee and struggled with a nose inhaler. 'I never understand when people say they don't understand it,' said Reid. '"We skipped the light fandango"'. That's straightforward. "Turned cartwheels across the floor." It seems very clear to me.' Nervously, I hazarded my own reading, the summation of my voluntary immersion in the world of A Whiter Shade of Pale, and much pondering on its significance. Is it about getting pissed and fancying the person opposite you? 'It's a story, a journey, seen from the point of view of a man character. 'The song explores what it means to be wrecked, in more than one sense of the word. A nervous seducer sustains his courage with alcohol. As he becomes more drunk, his impressions of his unfamiliar partner become confused by stray thoughts, fragments of childhood reading and his own faint-hearted aspirations. The song's recurring metaphor is of maritime disaster, and a parallel is drawn between romantic conquest and the allure and peril of the sea. The hero is a callow juvenile, far happier with a book than risking the emotional bruising of relationships. This ambivalence is underscored by frequent allusions to nausea. As befits a night of excess, there are gaps in the telling. The evasive 'And so it was that later ...' is given weight by repetition and its positioning just before the hook ('Her face at first just ghostly / Turned a whiter shade of pale'). The listener is invited to fill the gaps with his or her own (prurient) imagination. An entire verse was dropped early in the song's gestation. Another is optional ('She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,' / Though in truth we were at sea') and was excised from the recorded version at the insistence of producer Denny Cordell, to make the record conform to standard single length.

Answer 2

The last guy left the lyrics, so I'll explain what it's about.

The music is based on "Sleepers, Awake," one of the movements in Bach's "Suite No. 3 in D Major."
The lyrics came from a poem by Keith Reid, and were a collection of abstract phrases about boy/girl relationships using sailing metaphors. They sound very profound, but were actually a spoof of psychedelic lyrics popular in songs at the time. (thanks, larry - Ft. Worth, TX)
Reid got the idea for the title when he heard someone describe a party where a girl "Turned a whiter shade of pale."
Reid did not play any instruments, but was considered a member because he wrote their lyrics. Lead singer Gary Booker wrote the music.
The "Vestal Virgins" were the virgin holy priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and home. There were six of them chosen by lot and they were sworn to celibacy. Their main task was to maintain the sacred fire of Vesta. The Vestal duty brought great honor and afforded greater privileges to women who served in that role. The Vestals lived in the Atrium Vestae near the circular Temple of Vesta at the eastern edge of the Roman Forum.
This was the first song Procol Harum recorded. After it became a hit, they fired their original drummer and guitarist, replacing them with Barry Wilson and Robin Trower - more experienced musicians who could handle the subsequent touring.
This was one of the biggest hits of the "Summer Of Love" (1967).
In the UK, this was re-released in 1972.
Annie Lennox covered this in 1995. It is on her album Medusa, and hit #16 in the UK. Willie Nelson also covered this.
There are 2 additional verses that Procol Harum used to sing at live events. They're listed on the lyrics page.
This song has a chord progression that is similar in spots to that of "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge, although its melodic line is quite different. It is the chord progression, melodic line and song lyrics working together that make a song into a unique artistic entity.

In the future, try songfacts before you ask a question. Songfacts is a great site, and you might be able to save the 5 points you'd otherwise lose! ^_^

Answer 3

We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray

And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale

She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed

She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying, 'You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died

If music be the food of love
then laughter is its queen
and likewise if behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed


Wait, i never listened to the song...
I just copied and pasted this for 2 points...

Answer 4

Whiter Shade of Pale
Procol Harum
We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
But the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
As the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
The waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly,
Turned a whiter shade of pale
She said, 'there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see.'
But i wandered through my playing cards
And would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might have just as well've been closed
She said, 'i'm home on shore leave,'
Though in truth we were at sea
So i took her by the looking glass
And forced her to agree
Saying, 'you must be the mermaid
Who took neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
That my anger straightway died

If music be the food of love
Then laughter is its queen
And likewise if behind is in front
Then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
Seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
And attacked the ocean bed

Answer 5

I think this link explains it quite well.

Whiter shade of pale has obvious drug connections...


http://www.procolharum.com/99/awsop-benz.htm

Answer 6

you have the lyrics and here's places to go to for meaning:

Answer 7

Nobody even KNOWS what the lyrics are about. I don't think Procol Harem even knew what they were about. Acid, my friend. LSD.

Answer 8

they sound just as fullish as ac/dc and everi1 knows what a fool can do,i'll tell you