A Whiter Shade Of Pale
1960s Karaoke Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turned cartwheels โฒcross 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
And 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 they would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast
And although my eyes were open wide
They might have just as well 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 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 that later
As the miller told his tale
That her face, at first just ghostly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
The iconic song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by 1960s Karaoke Band is a poetic and enigmatic portrayal of a mystical encounter at a party. The first verse describes the wild revelry and the heady feeling of being caught up in the frenzied dance, with the singer feeling a bit disoriented from all the spinning around. Despite this, the audience calls for more and the party goes on. In the second verse, the miller tells a tale that seems to have a profound effect on the woman who becomes paler and more mysterious as the story unfolds. When she is questioned about why she is so troubled, she responds cryptically that "there is no reason".
The final verse of the song adds to the already surreal, dreamlike quality of the lyrics, describing a group of sixteen pure, unmarried women who are leaving for the coast. This only contributes to the sense of mystery and intrigue already established by the earlier verses. The repeated refrain of "And so it was..." adds to the sense of timelessness and the feeling that this event, however enigmatic, is somehow important and unforgettable.
Line by Line Meaning
We skipped the light fandango
We danced feverishly, jumping and leaping with joy
Turned cartwheels โฒcross the floor
We spun around the dance floor, feeling giddy and carefree
I was feeling kinda seasick
I was dizzy and nauseous, perhaps from all the spinning
But the crowd called out for more
Despite my queasiness, the audience wanted us to keep performing
The room was humming harder
The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and anticipation
As the ceiling flew away
The surroundings seemed to disappear as we became lost in the music
When we called out for another drink
We were thirsty and needed refreshments to keep up our energy
And the waiter brought a tray
The staff was attentive and accommodating, bringing us what we needed
And so it was that later
At another point in time, after the events just described
As the miller told his tale
As someone recounted a story, perhaps a traditional folktale
That her face, at first just ghostly
That a woman's countenance, initially pale and eerie
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Became even paler, ghostly almost, perhaps indicating shock or fear
She said, 'There is no reason
She pointed out that there was no justifiable cause for the situation
And the truth is plain to see.'
And the facts of the matter were clear and undeniable
But I wandered through my playing cards
I was lost in introspection, perhaps considering my own personal sorrows or struggles
And they would not let her be
The situation and emotions were occupying my thoughts and preventing me from focusing on others
One of sixteen vestal virgins
One of a group of chaste and devoted women who were about to embark on a journey
Who were leaving for the coast
Who were departing for an unknown destination, with a sense of leaving the familiar behind
And although my eyes were open wide
Despite being alert and fully awake
They might have just as well been closed
I was not truly seeing what was in front of me, as my mind was preoccupied
And so it was that later
At another point in time, after the events just described
As the miller told his tale
As another story was recounted, perhaps with a moral or lesson attached
That her face, at first just ghostly
That the woman's visage, previously pale and unsettling
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Became even more ashen and shocking, indicating deep emotion or revelation
And so it was that later
Once more, at another time
As the miller told his tale
As a narrative unfolded, perhaps with a sense of inevitability
That her face, at first just ghostly
Once again, the woman's features appeared ethereal and otherworldly
Turned a whiter shade of pale
Once again, the color drained from her face, signifying a profound shift in mood or circumstance
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.