Where can I read about the meaning behind the song "A Whiter Shade of Pale"?

Answer 1

Can't believe I found this, but.. here you go:

http://www.procolharum.com/awsop_lotgs.htm

Answer 2

Monday, November 13, 2006
Procol Harum ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ & meaning
One of the most irritating records of the 60s, Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale is back in the news with the High Court forced to decide who stole what from Bach. If the work is innovative, I guess it’s because it almost anticipates contemporary sampling techniques; pick a piece of music you like, mess about it with a little and hey presto. It’s a kind of Lockean: the old philosopher held that when you take something that nobody owns and mix it with your labour, it becomes yours.

Anyway. Many people, many of them fans (who call themselves Palers), have spent many an hour debating the meaning of A Whiter Shade of Pale. The bloke who sang it has always claimed not to know. But isn’t it obvious?

We set the scene with references to nauseating drunkenness (indeed the whole piece may be designed to induce nausea in the listener) and as the characters find themselves on the verge of vomiting their faces turn a whiter shade of pale: ‘I was feeling kinda seasick… / The room was humming harder… / When we called out for another drink / the waiter brought a tray’

There is clear menace in the lyric (‘but the crowd cried out for more’) and the female subject is clearly in trouble. This is emphasised in additional lyrics only performed in concert: ‘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’

The coyness of the performer and the claimed influence for the song – a hippie gathering – seem to support this reading… don’t you think

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. -------------------- Isn't it beautiful? What it all means is up to you. ps. The last two verses are not both available on any official record but they have quite often been heard in concert.

Answer 4

http://www.answers.com/topic/a-whiter-shade-of-pale-1

Answer 5

The internet

Answer 6

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6146618.stm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1289794/posts
http://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2006/05/procul-harum-a-whiter-shade-of-pale/