A Whiter Shade Of Pale
♫ Sarah Brightman Lyrics
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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
And so it was that later
As the Miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of paleShe said there is no reason
And the truth is plain to see
But I wandered through my playing cards
And I would not let her be
One of the sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open
They might just as well´ve been closedAnd so it was that later
As the Miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
The lyrics of Sarah Brightman's song A Whiter Shade Of Pale are full of vivid imagery and metaphor that draw listeners into a story of a night of revelry and love, tinged with confusion and fear. The opening lines, "We skipped the light Fandango, turned cartwheels 'cross the floor," suggest a playful dance and a sense of joy and movement. However, the image of feeling "seasick" and the crowd calling out for more reveals a hint of unease.
As the song continues, the scene becomes increasingly surreal, with the room "humming harder" and the ceiling "flying away." These images suggest a dreamlike state in which reality is distorted, and the boundaries between what is real and imaginary are blurred. As the singer orders another drink, the waiter brings a tray, and the scene becomes even more chaotic.
Later, as the Miller relates a story, the singer observes a woman whose face initially appears "ghostly" but then turns a "whiter shade of pale." This image is the emotional heart of the song, conveying not only the woman's fear or uncertainty but also the singer's own confusion and realization that something significant is happening.
Overall, the lyrics to A Whiter Shade Of Pale function as a kind of stream-of-consciousness narrative, in which the story is not always clear but the impressions and emotions that the experience evokes are vivid and evocative.
Line by Line Meaning
We skipped the light Fandango
We danced with great enthusiasm
Turned cartwheels ´cross the floor
We were so joyful that we did somersaults on the dance floor
I was feeling kind of seasick
I was experiencing vertigo or disorientation from the excitement and movement
But the crowd called out for more
Despite my discomfort, the audience wanted us to keep performing
The room was humming harder
The atmosphere intensified and grew louder
As the ceiling flew away
The heightened energy made me feel as though the ceiling was lifting off
When we called out for another drink
After the performance, we requested another beverage
The waiter brought a tray
A server delivered a tray with our drinks
And so it was that later
Then, at a later time
As the Miller told his tale
While the storyteller recounted his story
That her face, at first just ghostly
Initially, her face was pale and somewhat supernatural-looking
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Then her face became even paler and almost colorless
She said there is no reason
She claimed there was no explanation for what happened
And the truth is plain to see
The reality of the situation is evident
But I wandered through my playing cards
I was lost in thought or introspection, shuffling my deck of cards as a metaphor for my contemplation
And I would not let her be
I refused to let go of the situation or her involvement in it
One of the sixteen vestal virgins
A reference to mythological Roman priestesses, implying her purity or chastity
Who were leaving for the coast
The priestesses were departing for a distant location
And although my eyes were open
Despite my perception and awareness
They might just as well´ve been closed
I was not fully present or attentive to what was happening
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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