Music of the Day : Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale

Source

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is a song by the English rock band Procol Harum, released as their debut record on 12 May 1967. The music for "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was composed by Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher, while the lyrics were written by Keith Reid. In fact, the writing credits only listed Keith Reid and Gary Brooker. However, in 2009 Matthew Fisher won co-writing credit for the music in a unanimous ruling from the Law Lords. It was produced by Denny Cordell. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" has become an enduring classic, with over 1,000 known cover versions by other artists. Additionally, it has been included in many music compilations over the decades and has also been used in the soundtracks of numerous films and television programs. Source

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale [Single Version]

Lyrics

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Bridge 1]

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Bridge 2]

[Additional Verse]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 4]
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

[Chorus]
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

Source

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" helped kick-start the classic rock boomlet of the late '60s and became one of the most commercially successful singles in history, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide. A somber hymn supported by an organ theme straight from Bach, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" received critical acclaim for its instrumental melody, soulful vocals, melancholic tone and unusual lyrics and became one of the best songs of all time, and still is. Keith Reid got the idea for the song when he heard someone say to a woman at a party, "You’ve gone a whiter shade of pale" and the phrase stuck in his mind and it became the name and starting point of the song. I have listened to "A Whiter Shade of Pale" from many singers, and if you have time, I recommend you listen to it from other artists as well.

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale [Music Video]

Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale, live in Denmark 2006

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