What is the meaning behind the song 'Whiter Shade of Pale,'?

Question

I can't make head nor tail of the lyrics, but then 1. I'm a little hard of hearing and 2. Maybe there isn't meant to be an underlying story or cohesion in the lyrics.

What do you think? All I know is that the 'Miller' is based on Chaucer's character.

Thanks!

Answer 1

This question was asked 3 months ago by "Cheeky Monkee" and rather than take the credit,a very detailed answer was given by "Corn Flake"
I suggest you look it up.Thanks.

Answer 2

To really hear the lyrics, listen to Sarah Brightman sing it. Her 'Bell Cantor' style is breath-takingly clear. It is on her La Luna CD. The song tells of a night out dancing..drinking..a bit too much. 'We skipped the light Fandango turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kind of sea sick
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.

(this girl was drunk as a skunk and a miller ,a tradesman, tells the story to those who would listen)

She said there is no reason, and the truth was plan to see
But I wondered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
One of 16 vestal virgins who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
They might just as well've been closed

(her friend kept hounding her to tell her story ,and even though she was awake, she gave herself to the boy anyway..losing her virginity that night, in a drunken state)

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

(gossiping shop owner. ,again..she feels even sicker than before)

An all too familiar tale, told by too many young girls...............

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

I'm female so I could be taking this too personally. I think it is about the overstressed importance of a girl remaining virginal until marriage. (A notion I despise. My body my rules).
White meaning purity whiter than that meaning someone who has never been touched being as good as lifeless or ghostlike.
I just thought all musicians of that era used classical music in the songs .. turns out it was Bach. I looked it up.

Answer 5

Have a look at http://www.kissthisguy.com/lyric.php?id=4825 the Archive of Mis-heard lyrics. There's four entries for Whiter Shade of Pale.

Answer 6

Most of the theories that abounded at the time it was first released had a lot to do with 'illegal substances' and the effect they have on perception. I don't even think the writers knew just what they were on about.

Answer 7

read below at the person who sent you the words the song is about a captian who had been drinking who seen a mermaid and is sea sick and threw up when you are really sick you are a bit pale looking he was sick and scared when he saw the mermaid and there for his skin was whiter then just pale. thus whitter shade of pale get it? write to me or chat at [e-mail] you still don't understand

Answer 8

It refers to the buckets used at the time. The better quality buckets (pales) were whiter because of better plastics. Therefore, 'a whiter shade of pale' was very much sought after by labourors.

Answer 9

Since it was made in 1967 and is on two c.d.'s I've got called "psychedelia" and "best of psyhedelia" if you ask'd the band who made it what it was about they would say they don't know. a bit like if you ask'd syd barrett what some of he's offering's on pink floyd's 1st L.P. "piper at the gates of dawn" were about.

Answer 10

Dont listen to the rest of these answers. The song is about Heroine use.