Acker Bilk (b. 1929) is an English clarinettist specialising in trad jazz a… Read Full Bio ↴Acker Bilk (b. 1929) is an English clarinettist specialising in trad jazz and popular music.

Born on 28th January 1929 in Pensford, Somerset, christened Bernard Stanley Bilk, he has been one of the world's best known clarinettists since the late 1950s. His trademark goatee, bowler hat, and striped waistcoat are almost as recognisable as his breathy, vibrato-rich, middle-register clarinet style. Although playing mainly jazz in Dixieland and trad styles, he became famous for his 1961 hit "Stranger on the Shore", with which he became mainly associated in the public mind.
sadly this delightful man died 2nd November 2014, aged 85. Will be missed.

A Whiter Shade of Pale
Acker Bilk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

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 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
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

Overall Meaning

Acker Bilk's A Whiter Shade of Pale is a haunting classic rock song that is open to many interpretations. The lyrics are enigmatic, and the melody is mysterious, leaving a sense of anticipation that is never fully quenched. The song describes a wild night full of dancing and drinking, followed by a surreal experience. The singer seems to be lost in his thoughts, his mind wandering through his own playing cards, while the world around him transforms before his eyes.

The opening stanza describes a hedonistic scene where the crowd is enjoying themselves, while the singer is feeling seasick. The room starts to spin, and the ceiling flies away, creating a surreal sense of disorientation. The second verse features a girl who turns a whiter shade of pale, possibly due to the singer's confused and troubled state of mind. Despite her insistence that there's no reason for her behavior, he seems to be unable to let her go.

The final verse talks about the departure of sixteen vestal virgins, which could refer to a religious cult or group of musicians. The singer remains lost in thought, unable to see what's happening around him, as the miller tells his tale. The song's meaning is open to interpretation, but it could be about looking back on a wild night and feeling remorse for the things that happened.

Line by Line Meaning

We skipped the light fandango
We danced lightly and gracefully

Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
We did acrobatic moves across the dance floor

I was feeling kinda seasick
I was feeling dizzy and disoriented

But the crowd called out for more
However, the audience wanted more from us

The room was humming harder
The atmosphere became more intense

As the ceiling flew away
As the room seemed to expand and become more open

When we called out for another drink
When we requested another beverage

The waiter brought a tray
The waiter brought a tray of drinks

And so it was that later
And then it happened later on

As the miller told his tale
As the storyteller recounted his story

That her face, at first just ghostly,
That her face, which initially appeared pale and ethereal,