Lyrics: whiter shade of pale

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

Procol Harum

(Keith Reid/Gary Brooker)

as recorded by Procol Harum

We skipped the light Fandango

Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor

I was feeling kind of 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

------ organ solo ------

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 just as well've been closed

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

And so it was....(fade)

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Apparently there is an unpublished second verse that never made it

onto the record because the record company thought the song was

already too long. I've heard they included this verse in concerts.

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 straight 'way died