A Whiter Shade Of Pale

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" was the debut single by the British rock band Procol Harum. With its Bach-derived instrumental melody, soulful vocals, and unusual lyrics – by the song's co-authors Gary Brooker, Keith Reid and Matthew Fisher – "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached No. 1 in several countries when released in 1967. In the years since, it has become an enduring classic. It was the most played song in the last 75 years in public places in the UK (as of 2009), and the United Kingdom performing rights group Phonographic Performance Limited in 2004 recognised it as the most-played record by British broadcasting of the past 70 years. Also in 2004, Rolling Stone placed "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 57th on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The track A Whiter Shade of Pale was released on 12 May 1967 (UK, Deram Records). It entered the UK charts on 25 May 1967. In two weeks, it had reached number one, where it stayed for six weeks. All in all, it stayed 15 weeks on the UK chart. A May 1972 re-release on Fly Records stayed in the UK charts for a total of 12 weeks, and reached number 13 as highest. In the US, it reached #5 and sold over 1,000,000 copies. A live version of the track can be heard here A Whiter Shade of Pale (live) Chart positions: # 1 (UK) # 1 (Germany) # 1 (Ireland) # 1 (Australia) # 1 (World) # 3 (Norway VG-lista) # 5 (USA Hot 100)

[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